Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum 'Asian Beauty')
Viburnum dilatatum 'Asian Beauty' offers persistent cherry-red fruit and attractive fall color. This low-maintenance Linden viburnum thrives in zones 4-8.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’, commonly known as Linden viburnum, is a highly valued deciduous shrub celebrated for its multi-season appeal. Its primary distinction lies in the profusion of bright, cherry-red fruits that mature in late summer and often persist well into the winter months, providing crucial late-season interest. This upright, bushy shrub brings textural contrast with its wrinkled, coarsely toothed foliage, which transforms into attractive shades of yellow, orange, and red before dropping.
Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ is relatively easy to incorporate into many landscapes, requiring low maintenance once established. It performs best in average, well-drained soils, handling a wide range of conditions, though it prefers moist loams. Providing adequate sunlight, ranging from full sun to part shade, encourages its best flowering and fruiting display.
Beyond its ornamental value, this variety serves practical functions, making it an excellent choice for shrub borders, screens, or formal hedges. The persistent fruit also serves as a valuable late-season food source for local bird populations, increasing its ecological benefit in the garden space.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Adoxaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 8-10 ft
- Spread: 6-8 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal success with your Linden viburnum, plant it during its preferred season—typically fall or early spring—ensuring it is situated in full sun to part shade. This shrub is adaptable and handles a wide range of soils, but ensure the location offers medium moisture and, most critically, reliable drainage to prevent root issues.
Care for Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ is straightforward. Water regularly to maintain medium soil moisture, especially when young, although established plants develop some drought tolerance. Fertilizing is rarely needed; focus instead on pruning. Prune immediately after flowering concludes to avoid removing next year’s flower buds.
A key cultural requirement for maximizing fruit set on any Viburnum dilatatum selection is proper pollination. Single plants may yield poor fruit production; therefore, for the best display of cherry-red drupes on your ‘Asian Beauty’, plant at least one other V. dilatatum selection nearby for cross-pollination.
Landscape Uses
The robust structure and seasonal interest make Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ an indispensable component in transitional planting schemes. It excels when utilized as substantial shrub borders, providing a dense, attractive backdrop for lower-growing perennials or annuals. Because of its height and bushy habit, it also performs well as a reliable screen or foundation planting where height is desired.
Consider using Linden viburnum in open woodland gardens, where the dappled light mimics its native habitat conditions found in forest margins. Furthermore, when planted in groups, ‘Asian Beauty’ forms an impressive, continuous hedge that screens unwanted views while offering excellent fall color and winter berry interest.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
- Good for cut flowers
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum dilatatum is commonly called linden viburnum because its leaves resemble those of the linden tree (Tilia). It is native to open forests, forest margins, lowlands, foothills and scrubby areas in China, Korea and Japan. It is an upright to rounded, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-10’ tall and to 6-8’ wide. Creamy white flowers (1/4” diameter) in showy, domed clusters (cymes to 5” wide) appear in late spring (May to early June). Flowers give way to ovoid bright red fruits (drupes to 1/3” long) that mature in late summer to early fall and persist on the shrub into early winter. Berries are attractive to birds. Orbicular to broad-ovate, wrinkled, dark green leaves (to 5” long) are coarsely toothed and pubescent on both sides. Leaves turn shades of bronze, burgundy and dull red in fall.Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.Specific epithet comes from the Latin word dilatatus meaning spread out.‘Asian Beauty’ is a cultivar that is particularly distinguished by the profusion, winter persistence and cherry-red color of its fruits. It is an upright, bushy, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-10’ tall and to 6-8’ wide. White flowers in showy, domed clusters (cymes to 6” wide) appear in late spring. Flowers give way to ovoid, bright, cherry red fruits (drupes) that mature in late summer to early fall and persist well into winter in showy pendulous clusters. Fruit is attractive to birds. Orbicular to broad-ovate, wrinkled, dark green leaves (to 5” long) are coarsely toothed and pubescent on both sides. Leaves turn attractive shades of yellow, orange and red in fall.
Tolerances
- Tolerates wide range of soils
Potential Problems
This handsome shrub generally boasts a clean bill of health concerning pests and diseases, making the Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ a low-stress addition to the garden. Serious insect or fungal issues are rarely encountered by astute gardeners.
Consistent management should focus primarily on cultural upkeep, such as ensuring proper pruning timing immediately after flowering. Avoid late-season pruning, which can inadvertently remove the wood needed for next year’s blooms and subsequent fruit set on your Linden viburnum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Linden viburnum suitable for?
Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ is hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 8, offering reliable performance in a wide swath of temperate climates.
How large does Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ grow?
This variety typically reaches a mature height between 8 and 10 feet tall, with a corresponding spread of 6 to 8 feet wide, developing an upright, full shape.
When does Linden viburnum bloom?
The white, showy flowers of the Linden viburnum are best observed during late spring, specifically from May into June, preceding the development of its famed red fruit.
What sun exposure does Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ need?
For optimal structure and fruit production, this shrub performs best when situated where it receives full sun exposure, though it will tolerate part shade conditions successfully.
Conclusion
The consistent beauty provided by the profuse, persisting cherry-red fruit and the handsome foliage makes the Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ an essential backbone plant for four-season interest. Remember that cross-pollination is key to maximizing the fruiting display of this specific Linden viburnum cultivar. Check your local USDA hardiness zone compatibility before planting this spectacular deciduous shrub this coming fall or spring.
Wildlife Benefits
The late-season persistence of the bright red fruit on Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ offers significant foraging opportunities for wildlife when many other food sources have dwindled. Birds readily consume the drupes, making this an excellent choice for gardens focusing on avian appeal. Planting groupings of this variety will not only enhance visual impact but also support local ecosystems through winter.
Pruning and Fruit Set Timing
Understanding the proper timing for pruning is crucial for maintaining both the structure and the abundant fruit display of your Linden viburnum. Since the flowers that produce the desirable red berries appear on old wood, any pruning must be executed immediately after the current season’s flowers fade in late spring or early summer. Delaying pruning until late summer or fall will remove the nascent buds set for the following year.
