Summary
Viburnum plicatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Adoxaceae (formerly Caprifoliaceae), native to mainland China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.[1] The Latin specific epithet plicatum means "pleated", referring to the texture of the leaves.[2]
| Viburnum plicatum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Dipsacales |
| Family: | Adoxaceae |
| Genus: | Viburnum |
| Species: | V. plicatum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Viburnum plicatum | |
Description edit
Growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall, it is a deciduous shrub. The leaves are opposite, 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 3–6 cm broad, simple ovate to oval, with a serrated margin.
Plants from Taiwan are sometimes distinguished as Viburnum plicatum var. formosanum Liu & Ou.[3]
Inflorescences edit
The flowers are produced in flat corymbs 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in diameter, comprising a central cluster of fertile yellowish-white flowers 5 mm diameter, surrounded by a ring of showy, sterile flowers 2–3 cm diameter, which act as a target guide to pollinating insects. The fruit is an ovoid blue-black drupe 8–10 mm long.[4][5]
Cultivation edit
Viburnum plicatum is a popular ornamental plant, both in its native area and elsewhere in temperate regions. Some of the more popular cultivars are selected for having all of their flowers large and sterile with few or no fertile flowers; their flowerheads resemble a snowball, giving them the popular name Japanese snowball bush. Cultivars of this type include 'Grandiflorum' and 'Rotundifolium'.
Cultivars edit
Cultivars with wild-type flowerhead structure are sometimes described as a separate botanical form V. plicatum f. tomentosum. They include 'Cascade', 'Lanarth' and 'Rowallane'.[4][5]
The following cultivars in this group have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[6]
References edit
- ^ "Viburnum plicatum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
- ^ Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute: Viburnum plicatum var. formosanum Archived January 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
- ^ a b Bean, W. J. (1980). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 107. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ "Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Cascade'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Pink Beauty'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Popcorn'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Summer Snowflake'". Retrieved 16 February 2019.
