Viburnum Sweet Talker - Bodnantense Viburnum

Viburnum Sweet Talker is a winter viburnum that combines many qualities. It is a bush that blooms pink from the end of winter, with a scent of honey and spices. Another advantage is its beautiful forest green foliage that turns burgundy in cool weather, in spring, but especially in autumn. Stunning and without specific requirements, this variety is easy to grow in most regions as long as it is planted well.

Viburnum Sweet Talker® Proven Winners® belongs to the Adoxaceae family. It is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of two viburnum species, Viburnum x bodnantense and Viburnum suspensum. This cultivar was developed in the USA by breeder Dr. Tom Ranney, who seeks to combine the beauty of early-flowering viburnums with increased heat tolerance. The bush has an upright habit and can reach a height of 2.4 to 3 m and a width of 91 cm to 1.5 m. Its flowers appear from March to April, clustered in small trumpet-shaped pink flowers. They emit a scent of honey and spices. The foliage is semi-evergreen: it can partially remain on the branches in mild climates, or fall if the winter is cold. It is dense, tough foliage composed of finely toothed, fairly bright green leaves. When temperatures are cool, this foliage takes on spectacular shades of violet burgundy. This dense foliage brings interesting texture to the garden for much of the year.

This Sweet Talker® Winter Viburnum is a very resistant plant. This variety tolerates heat and salt well, which allows it to be adopted in warmer climates and coastal regions. Easy to live with, it can be planted in flower beds, informal or flowering hedges, or as a specimen plant, preferably not far from the house or a pathway to enjoy the scent and beauty of the flowers at the end of winter. To accompany it, place some Oriental hyacinths or Winter Aconite bulbs at its base. Next to it, you can plant a Garrya elliptica 'James Roof', a strawberry tree Arbutus unedo 'Rubra', or a witch hazel if your soil is not chalky. Cut the flowering branches to make beautiful bouquets that will perfume the house.

Viburnums are undemanding bushes that integrate well into informal hedges; by mixing different species or combining them with other flowering shrubs, you will create a charming garden that evolves throughout the year.