Skip to main content

Featured

Rose Pruning Again

Late February to early March is the time for the major pruning of roses. Back in December, I did a preliminary pruning , now is the time for the last major pruning before the spring season begins.  First, a comment on hybrid tea roses. This is what most people have in their gardens. I only have a few hybrid tea roses. These are the roses that need the most drastic pruning. Basically, you cut all the canes down to about 1 foot, making the cuts right above an outward-facing bud. The result will be something like this -  Most of my roses fall into the shrub and climbing categories. These roses are pruned differently and not as severe as the hybrid teas. For shrub roses (and many of the David Austin English roses fall into this category), I first take out the older canes completely to the ground. The older canes are easy to spot - they will be thicker and darker in color. After thinning out the older canes, I remove any canes that are damaged, crossing one another and canes that ...
4 comments
Read more
Labels

Shasta Viburnum



One of my favorite blooming shrubs in spring is the Shasta Virburnum (aka Doublefile Virburnum) (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum). I'll never forget the first time I saw one. We drove to Wilkerson Mill Gardens, a nursery near Atlanta, to buy hydrangeas and there was one blooming in a field in the distance. It was magnificent and of course I had to have one.

It doesn't have the space it needs in our garden to attain the beauty of the one I saw at the nursery but it always blooms nicely. It was getting so large that it was reaching up into the limbs of the trees growing near it. I reluctantly decided to prune it last year and I'm afraid that I probably ruined the tiered effect that it normally has. It is still a very striking shrub. Beautiful berries appear later in the summer and are quickly devoured by the birds.

This particular viburnum was developed by Dr. Donald Egolf in the 1960s at the U.S. National Arboretum. He crossed an unnamed seedling with 'Mariesii', a popular variety still often found in nurseries, and it was finally released in 1979. 

Email Post
Labels:

Comments

  1. Chandramouli SApril 10, 2009 at 9:45 PM

    That must have been named Shasta Vivacious! How charming and vigorous! They're full of life! Great photos, Phillip!

    ReplyDelete
  2. D'RimbaApril 10, 2009 at 10:13 PM

    Nice flower, Thanks for your support, do come again pleaseeee

    ReplyDelete
  3. LesApril 11, 2009 at 4:10 AM

    You are confusing me. When I see these blooms I think it must be May already. I love these too, clean and bright.

    ReplyDelete
  4. F CameronApril 11, 2009 at 4:32 AM

    That's a real beauty! I love viburnum and grew several varieties at a previous house where I had enough shade. I tried one here, but it died from the transplant.

    Cameron

    ReplyDelete
  5. Monica the Garden FaerieApril 11, 2009 at 5:07 AM

    Viburnums are probably my favorite shrub species as there are so many different kinds, and they have nice flowers, fragrance, and berries.

    ReplyDelete
  6. sweetbayApril 11, 2009 at 7:07 AM

    Wow -- lovely!!

    I have the species and will have to try 'Shasta'. It's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dee/reddirtramblingsApril 11, 2009 at 7:26 AM

    Phillip, I have a Viburnum, but it was a passalong, a tiny thing, and this will be its first year to bloom. I hope it one day looks as lovely as yours.~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  8. Barbee'April 11, 2009 at 8:19 AM

    One of my favorites, but I don't have one of my own. Thank you for showing us yours. And, a beauty it is in spite of the pruning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sweet Home and Garden CarolinaApril 11, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    Big fan of viburnums as well, Phillip. In fact the focal point of my garden was Viburnum plicatum 'mariesii ', a relative of your doublefile. Unfortunately it declined after 20 years in my garden. I sure do miss it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Catherine@AGardenerinProgressApril 11, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    They are very pretty. I have shrubs too that I know probably don't have the space they really need, but sometimes they're so pretty you want to have them anyway. I think yours looks very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)April 11, 2009 at 11:34 AM

    Hi Phillip

    What an absolute beauty.

    Your photos are so sharp by the way.

    Rob

    ReplyDelete
  12. JudyApril 11, 2009 at 7:48 PM

    Very Impressive Phillip! Is it more of a vine or shrub? The picture looks like it is running a little. I like the new photo you have in your profile too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. GailApril 12, 2009 at 4:39 AM

    Hi Phillip...I love this shrub and always wanted one here...but never thought I had the right conditions. Btw, I've popped over to your web page and had a delightful time watching the evolution of your garden! It's wonderful...you and Michael are very talented garden designers. Have a great day gail

    ReplyDelete
  14. WayneApril 12, 2009 at 5:18 AM

    I have twice bought what was suppose to be a Doublefile Virburnum, but they ended up being different. I hate nurseries that don't have the correct names on their plants!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lisa at GreenbowApril 12, 2009 at 6:00 PM

    Wow, what gorgeous blooms on this viburnum. I have several viburnums but they don't develop blooms properly. I think they are in too much shade. This one is so big too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownApril 12, 2009 at 6:10 PM

    It's a favorite of mine, as well! I have a long mixed border than turns the corner of the street, and the viburnum is the centerpiece! I think this winter's cold actually made it more spectacular! It's definitely one I can understand you making room for in your garden!

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousApril 13, 2009 at 7:53 AM

    Hi Phillip~~ I left a message about the flopping grasses on your Blotanical plot.

    Doublefile always amuses me. We've all heard of "single file" our minds warp speeding back in time to those early years of lining up single file for our semi-orderly trek to the lunch room.

    V. 'Doublefile' is like a hydrangea in spring. Very clever breeding by the plant person you mentioned. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts