Burkwood Viburnum

Burkwood viburnum is the semi-evergreen shrub that produces rounded clusters of white flowers in April with a fragrance that ranks among the best in the spring garden, sweet, spicy, and intense enough to carry across a yard. The flowers open from pink buds, and the glossy, dark green foliage is semi-evergreen in mild winters, dropping in colder years. It grows six to ten feet with an upright, rounded habit. A hybrid between V. carlesii and V. utile.

In Western Washington, Burkwood viburnum performs well in sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil. 'Mohawk' is the standard cultivar: compact, heavy-flowering, and with dark red buds that contrast beautifully with the white open flowers. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The spring fragrance is the primary selling point, and it delivers consistently. For a spring-flowering shrub that combines visual beauty with one of the most intoxicating fragrances in the garden, Burkwood viburnum is essential.