Printed at http://www.quackingrassnursery.com/index.cfm/
Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta'
Doublefile Viburnum
Plant Type:
DECIDUOUS SHRUBSViburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta' - This is a very large-growing and very beautiful selection of Doublefile Viburnum gradually attaining heights of 10 to 12 feet on a wide-spreading domed form. White, flat May lace caps may achieve a 6-inch diameter. 'Shasta' is just gorgeous in bloom. Summer berries follow turning red and black by late in the growing season if the birds haven't made a meal of them by then. Bronze to red-maroon autumn leaves complete the picture. The gray wood on its densely and broad-branched structure are very handsome in the winter landscape. When the leaves drop we usually find the nest of one of our resident birds - most often a Chipping Sparrow. 'Shasta' will make a fantastic specimen, an element in a large shrub border, a deciduous hedge (note to control freaks: PLEASE: for the love of God - I beg you, leave it unpruned) or a large element in a mixed wildlife hedgerow. Fertile soil in full to mostly sunny siting. Cutting grown.
Characteristics and Attributes for Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta'
Season of Interest (Flowering)
- Spring
Season of Interest (Foliage)
- Spring / Summer / Autumn
Interesting Bark
- Architectural
Autumn Interest
- Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
- Autumn Leaf Color
Nature Attraction
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Honey Bees & Native Bees
Light
- Full Sun
- Mostly Sunny
Attributes
- Hedgerow
- Specimen
- Screen
- Shrub Border
- Wildlife Garden
- Hedge
Growth Rate in the Garden
- Moderately Fast
Soil
- Draining
- Fertile
Origins
- Garden Origin
Propagated By
- Cutting Grown
Genus Overview: Viburnum
Common Name: Viburnum
Viburnum. This genus is full of fantastic, multi-season garden worthy shrubs. Garden heroes. Spring flowers, often large and showy, many with heady sweet fragrance are arranged in cymes. Some smell of musk (Viburnum dilatatum) while others produce no fragrance at all. Flowers are followed with berries. If late season and autumn berries are desired then planting two of a species will ensure fruit set; for instance, Viburnum dilatatum 'Erie' and V. dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' will pollinate each other and produce fruit. Viburnum cassinoides is closely allied with V. nudum; but if the flowering times do not overlap then there will be no fruit. However, if you plant V. nudum 'Winterthur' in proximity with V. nudum var. angustifolium, 'Longwood', 'Moonshine' or 'Pink Beauty' berries will abound. Another interesting example is V. lantana which crosses with V. burejaeticum and vice versa. Any V. plicatum f. tomentosum selection such as 'Shasta' or 'Shoshoni' will pollinate with all other V. plicatum f. tomentosum selections like 'Copper Ridges or 'Pink Beauty'. But if you were to plant two 'Shasta' side by side with no other V. plicatum f. tomentosum in near proximity then your effort will be fruitless. As with almost all in the universe of plants there are exceptions. There is one viburnum which appears to be self-fruitful, Viburnum setigerum the Tea Viburnum. Another interesting exception to the rule is Viburnum nudum 'Pink Beauty' which is also self-fruitful - a departure from its siblings. And on the other spectrum are two I can think of off-hand that are barren, Viburnum plicatum 'Roseum' and Viburnum plicatum 'Kern's Pink'. Oftentimes, the dwarf viburnums reamin in a juvenile state and do not produce fruit. All Viburnum of any size that do produce fruit are magnificent in the late season garden. And they feed all manner of birds. Larger, denser shrubs provide cover and nesting opportunities. Nearly all Viburnum have terrific autumn foliage colors, too. Viburnums are members of Caprifoliaceae. All prefer part to full sun and fertile soils. All are cutting grown. Many thanks to Gary Ladman of Classic Viburnums who generously set us straight regarding some of the details we had originally incorrectly lauded... ya can't know everything!