Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' CARDINAL CANDY)
Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' CARDINAL CANDY, or Linden viburnum, offers multi-season beauty with showy flowers and persistent red fruit. Hardy and low maintenance.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY offers exceptional multi-season interest, making it a standout choice for ornamental landscaping. This dense, free-branching shrub is valued for its creamy white blooms in late spring followed by extraordinarily persistent, bright red fruit. As a cultivar of the Linden viburnum, it provides structure and color, maturing into a tidy, upright-rounded form perfect for defined garden spaces.
This deciduous shrub is known for its excellent winter hardiness, thriving across USDA Zones 4 through 7. It combines low maintenance requirements with significant visual appeal, boasting wrinkled, dark green foliage that acquires lovely russet red tones in the autumn. The persistent fruit display of Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY ensures color long after other flowering shrubs have faded.
Gardeners prize the Linden viburnum for its reliability. Whether used as a screen, foundation planting, or low hedge, Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY performs consistently well. Its ability to provide year-round structure—from fragrant flowers to lingering winter berries—secures its spot in mixed borders.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Adoxaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 4-5 ft
- Spread: 4-5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Creamy white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY during the cooler dormant seasons—early spring or fall—to allow for establishment before summer heat. It performs best in average, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist, although it tolerates a wide range of soil types. While it thrives in full sun, partial shade is readily accepted, though heavy shade may reduce flowering and fruiting.
Once established, this variety exhibits good drought tolerance, requiring medium water input, primarily avoiding drying out completely. Fertilization is typically unnecessary if planted in rich loam. Pruning should be performed minimally; if necessary, prune immediately after the spring flowering period concludes to avoid removing the wood that would bear next year’s flowers.
A critical detail for maximizing ornamental impact is pollination. While CARDINAL CANDY is noted for producing abundant fruit even without nearby pollinators, planting two or more Viburnum dilatatum selections close together ensures the most prolific display of bright red drupes. Note that the leaves strongly resemble those of the linden tree, giving the Linden viburnum its common name.
Landscape Uses
The compact size of Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY—typically reaching only 4 to 5 feet tall and wide—makes it exceptionally versatile. It excels when used formally as a low foundation planting, providing clean structure near buildings. Its dense branching habit also qualifies it as an excellent, formal hedge requiring minimal trimming to maintain shape.
For less structured designs, this cultivar works beautifully in shrub borders, providing mid-level texture and reliably bright autumn and winter color. In open woodland gardens, the Linden viburnum can anchor transitional plantings between deep shade and full sun areas. The combination of showy flowers and persistent red fruit means the CARDINAL CANDY lives up to its name, offering reliable ornamental value throughout the year.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Fragrant
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum dilatatum is commonly called linden viburnum because its leaves resemble those of the linden tree (Tilia). This specific cultivar, CARDINAL CANDY, is distinguished by its dense, free-branching habit and excellent multi-season interest, maturing to 4-5’ tall. It produces small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers in large rounded clusters, followed by bright red drupes that mature in late summer and often persist well into the following spring. The orbicular, wrinkled leaves turn an attractive russet red in the fall, complementing the persistent fruit display.
Tolerances
- No serious insect or disease problems
Potential Problems
Gardeners will appreciate the low-maintenance profile of the Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY, as it generally has no serious insect or disease problems to contend with. This excellent resistance reduces the need for chemical intervention. Ensure proper soil drainage is maintained; like many viburnums, overly wet, poorly draining clay soils can cause root stress over time, although established plants tolerate various soil conditions well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Linden viburnum suitable for?
Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY is winter hardy and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 7.
How large does Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY grow?
This cultivar is compact, typically maturing to a height between 4 and 5 feet and maintaining a similar spread of 4 to 5 feet, making it ideal for smaller spaces.
When does Linden viburnum bloom?
The Linden viburnum produces its creamy white, fragrant flowers most reliably in late spring, typically from May to June.
What sun exposure does Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY need?
For optimal performance, V. dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY should be sited in locations receiving full sun to partial shade.
Conclusion
The Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY is an outstanding landscape plant prized for its compact size, low maintenance, and incredible display of flowers and persistent, bird-attractive red fruit. This cultivar of the Linden viburnum performs reliably across several climates, offering year-round visual interest. Before planting, confirm that your garden falls within USDA Zones 4 to 7 and ensure well-drained soil conditions are met for the best results.
Companion Planting
When planning borders featuring the Linden viburnum, consider pairing it with plants that appreciate similar moisture and sun conditions but bloom at different times to extend interest. Hostas or ferns make excellent groundcovers or understory companions in partial shade settings, contrasting their broad foliage against the wrinkled leaves of the viburnum. For sunny locations, consider early-blooming spring bulbs like Daffodils or Tulips, which fade away just as the CARDINAL CANDY’s flowers emerge in May.
Design Ideas
Viburnum dilatatum ‘Henneke’ CARDINAL CANDY excels in disciplined, formal plantings due to its naturally dense and rounded habit. Planting specimens in a tight row creates an effective, flowering screen or formal border that requires minimal hedging. Alternatively, mass plantings offer a dramatic block of fall/winter color when the bright red fruits contrast sharply with the lingering foliage color. In mixed shrub borders, allow space around the base to appreciate the fine texture of the flowers and the persistent fruit clusters.
