Viburnum lantana Aureum - Wayfaring tree

Viburnum lantana 'Aureum' is a unique form of the native wayfaring tree with golden foliage. This variety has the same qualities as the wild form, but it is slightly less vigorous. However, it forms a much brighter, more refined bush, ideal for adding charm to a rural scene. Its beautiful golden foliage is adorned with numerous cream-white flowers in spring, followed by decorative fruiting. This wayfaring tree is not only suitable for most climates, but it is also decorative and useful for the small fauna of the garden. It is an excellent shrub for limestone soils.

Viburnum lantana 'Aureum' is a selection from the German nursery Späth dating back to 1921. The species, which is known as wayfaring tree, manciana viburnum, or cochène depending on the region, is native to central and southern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. It is a deciduous shrub that grows in light woodland and scrubland, often on limestone soil at altitudes below 1600 m. All wayfaring trees are now classified in the viburnum family.

The golden wayfaring tree, which grows slower than the wild species, reaches about 2 m in all directions. It is a bushy, well-branched shrub with a generally rounded habit. The deciduous foliage is golden yellow in spring and gradually takes on greenish hues over the weeks. This yellow colour will be more enduring if the plant is exposed to partial shade or shade. The large leaves of this wayfaring tree are pendulous, thick, and rough, with an oval shape and finely toothed margins, and the underside is covered in downy hairs. Each leaf measures up to 10 cm long and 6 cm wide. The autumn colours, often splendid, vary from year to year: they are likely dependent on climatic conditions and soil nature. The flowering from April to June, is abundant and nectar-rich. It produces rounded and flattened, 4 to 10 cm diameter clusters of 5 mm white flowers with protruding yellow stamens. This fragrant flowering is followed by an unusual fruiting, which can be enjoyed from September to December. The fruits are spherical, measure 8 mm in diameter, and turn from pink to red and then black at maturity. They attract birds, which will brighten up the shortest and dreariest days of the year. The young branches of the wayfaring tree are woolly in appearance, flexible, and covered in small star-shaped hairs. Over time, they take on a more greyish colour.

Viburnum lantana 'Aureum' is a very hardy shrub that can adapt to various growing conditions from north to south. It can be used as a specimen plant, in informal hedges, in shrub borders, or in groves. Plant it in a high-traffic area to enjoy its golden foliage and fragrance. This variety will look stunning alongside shrubs with dark, purple, or black foliage. It can also be paired with other native plants such as the common medlar, the guelder rose, the spindle tree, hazelnut trees, or hawthorns.