Viburnum Shiny Dancer

Viburnum 'Shiny Dancer' is a new variety of small-growing hybrid viburnum with exceptional semi-evergreen foliage. The foliage displays an extremely shiny appearance. The young leaves are red when budding, turn dark green in summer, and burst into magnificent colours in autumn and winter. This small round bush is also adorned with a generous spring flowering, made up of large clusters of small white flowers. A beautiful novelty for the garden or terrace, easy to grow in ordinary and moist soil.

'Shiny Dancer' is a horticultural variety obtained in North Carolina (USA) in 2015. This bush is the result of cross-breeding between Viburnum 'Huron' (hybrid of Viburnum lobophyllum and V. japonicum) and 'Chippewa' (hybrid of Viburnum japonicum and V. dilatatum). It belongs to the Viburnaceae family. Growing slowly, the bush will not exceed 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft) in all directions at maturity (up to 1.3 (4ft) after many years). Its foliage is evergreen depending on the climate, or late deciduous. It is composed of tough, waxy-textured leaves, strongly veined, measuring on average 11cm (4in) long and 7.8cm (3in) wide, broadly ovate in shape, pointed at their tips, with dentate margins. The surface of the lamina is very shiny, so that the leaf appears almost artificial. The young leaves are red in colour, turning red bordered with purple and then very dark green in summer. The autumn leaves, as well as those that persist in winter, become dark red and purple-violet. 'Shiny Dancer' blooms in early May, for 2 to 3 weeks, at the end of the previous year's branches, in the form of umbels measuring 9cm (4in) in diameter and 4cm (2in) in height. The flowers have no fragrance. Each inflorescence is composed of 150 to 400 tiny flowers ranging from yellow-green to white. The fruiting is abundant and decorative in the presence of other viburnums derived from the Viburnum japonicum species in the garden. It takes the form of clusters filled with red round berries, 1cm (1in) in diameter, black when ripe and greatly appreciated by birds.

Completely hardy, 'Shiny Dancer' is an undemanding plant. It thrives in sunny or semi-shaded positions, and flourishes in any ordinary, preferably not too chalky soil. It is used as a focal point in very small gardens, in front of a hedge or a bed of tall shrubs in larger gardens. It can be planted with a variety of small bushes chosen for their autumn foliage (Viburnum Eskimo, oakleaf hydrangea, Physocarpus), their spring flowering (abelias, deutzias, dwarf lilacs, Buddleia 'Wisteria Lane'), or for their attractive fruiting (callicarpas, symphorines). Its beautiful inflorescences can be used in spring bouquets, along with daffodils and tulips. Viburnum 'Shiny Dancer' is currently one of the smallest viburnums available on the market: a rare quality that allows it to be grown for many years in a large pot to decorate a terrace!