SHRUBS > VIBURNUM > DAVIDII
Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From GARY LADMAN
With 52 years of experience working in horticulture, Gary Ladman is the Co-Owner of specialist plant nursery Classic Viburnums, which is based in Nebraska in the US. Gary has a degree in Horticulture and breeds many Viburnum cultivars with his wife Sue.
IN THIS GUIDE
VIBURNUM GUIDES
Viburnum davidii is a type of evergreen shrub that has very distinctive glossy leaves and white flowers.
Adding Viburnum to your garden is a great way to add visual interest and it integrates well with other plants and shrubs.
Growing this shrub in your garden is quite simple – if you plant in early spring, then you’ll be able to enjoy the full benefit of their stunning blooms by the time summer comes around.
They can tolerate shade quite well, so you don’t need to worry about finding the perfect spot either.
Overview
Botanical Name | Viburnum davidii |
Common Name(s) | David Viburnum |
Plant Type | Shrub |
Native Area | Western China |
Hardiness Rating | H5 |
Foliage | Evergreen, deep green leathery leaves |
Flowers | Dull white flowers followed by vivid berries |
When To Sow | February, March, October, November |
Flowering Months | May, June |
Sunlight
Preferred
Full Shade / Partial Shade
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Size
Height
1 – 1.5M
Spread
1 – 1.5M
Bloom Time
May – June
Soil
Preferred
Most Soil Types
Moisture
Moist but well drained
pH
Any
Viburnum davidii is native to western China, can grow up to 1.5m tall and has oval-shaped leaves and clusters of small white flowers.1Viburnum davidii. (n.d.). Oregon State University. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/viburnum-davidii
How To Grow Viburnum
When planting viburnum shrubs, if possible you should choose a spot that receives plenty of sunlight.
Some varieties are tolerant of partial shade, but in general, Viburnum are sun-loving plants.
You should also make sure that the soil is well-drained to prevent issues caused by waterlogging.
“Viburnums do not like wet feet or soil that does not drain for long periods of time,” says Gary.
“If you are faced with this and you don’t want to provide subsurface drainage, plant your viburnums with the root ball elevated above the soil surface.
This can be achieved by first digging the planting hole deeper than the root ball to encourage drainage, then placing the soil back in the hole to the desired planting depth, leaving half of the root ball exposed above the existing soil surface.
“Finish backfilling by mounding soil around the exposed portion of the root ball and sloping it away from the base of the plant so that water will run away from the planting hole.
“One very important precaution when planting using this method is to make sure that when you replace the over-excavated soil back in the hole, you lightly tamp it so that when you water your plant it does not settle.”
Good ventilation is essential if you want your plants to thrive and avoid potential issues with fungal diseases.
Planting
This being the case, you should plant them roughly 10-15 meters apart.
Once you have found a good spot, you should dig a hole that’s big enough to accommodate the entire root ball.
Position the plant and fill the hole with soil; be sure to water it well immediately after planting and continue to water it at least once a week for the first six months.
The best time to plant would be in the spring or autumn – both these times of year will give your plants the ideal conditions to become established, by gifting them a good mix of sunlight and rain.
“Viburnum davidii is dioecious, meaning that it has separate male and female plants,” explains Colin Skelly, a Horticultural Consultant.
“If you want to enjoy their attractive blue berries, make sure you select your plants in the autumn as the males will be berry-less. Choose male plants as well as females to ensure fertilisation.”
Viburnum Care
V. davidii plants need a good amount of exposure to the sun in order to flower at their best.
They will need to be watered regularly while they’re establishing themselves.
It’s a good idea to use mulch to help the soil retain moisture.
V. davidii doesn’t typically require a specific type of soil to do well and providing the soil is not overly saturated, they will be fine.
If you want to use a fertiliser with your plants, then spring would be the best time.
Pruning Guidelines
V. davidii shrubs don’t need too much pruning, outside of removing dead leaves or damaged branches.
If you notice that branches are becoming a little too dense, then it’s not a bad idea to prune them to improve air circulation.
Good air circulation will mean your plants grow better and lessen the risk of disease.
Although pruning generally isn’t necessary for V. davidii to grow well, you can prune young plants if you want to shape them.
Pinching out the sides of young plants will enable you to create a balanced look without causing any harm to them.
Propagation
There are a couple of good ways to propagate viburnum shrubs:
Taking Cuttings
Using cuttings is a quick and easy way to propagate new plants from an existing Viburnum – with early summer being the best time to take cuttings.
Be sure to take your cuttings from new growth that hasn’t yet flowered and ensure you only take from plants that are well watered.
Place your cuttings in a container with good-quality compost and lightly water them.
They will need some light, but it’s not recommended to keep them in direct sunlight – using a propagator would be ideal.
The cuttings should become established and show signs of new growth in 5-10 weeks.
Layering
Layering is a very easy way of propagating viburnum and simply means taking a stem from an existing plant and encouraging it to form its own roots.
There are a few ways to accomplish this, but we’ll look at the simplest here.
Check the outside of your plants for stems that can be bent to the soil level.
You should then make a small incision in the stem and bury it in the soil – you can use a large rock or brick to rest it on the stem and keep it buried in the soil.
Everything being well, this stem should form its own roots in 1-2 months.
Once it’s well established, you can then transplant it elsewhere in your garden, so it has room to flourish.
Common Problems
Viburnum plants tend to be problem-free.
However, when they’re grown in less-than-ideal conditions or when they’re first becoming established, certain diseases and pests can affect them in their vulnerable state.
Here are a few of the most common:
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a type of fungal disease that affects countless plants.
Plants that develop this issue will have a coating of white fungus on their leaves that is similar in appearance to powder (hence the name).
Powdery mildew usually affects young viburnum, especially when they’re grown in humid conditions.
Thankfully, there are effective ways to prevent and treat it – most importantly, you should take care when watering plants, so water doesn’t splash onto the leaves unnecessarily.
For any plants that already have powdery mildew on them, you can use a fungicidal spray.
Preventing and treating powdery mildew can also help with the prevention of leaf spot.
Leaf Beetles
Leaf beetles are a relatively new problem for viburnum plants and can be a real nuisance since they can very easily destroy the leaves of plants they infest.
If you notice leaf beetles on your plants, then you should take steps to remove them immediately.
You can often spot their larvae first and simply pruning any leaves where they’re present can be a good way to stop them from spreading further.
Companion planting and introducing plants that attract predatory insects can be useful as ladybirds and other insects can help deal with the issue naturally.
FAQs
Are Vibernum davidii Deer Resistant?
Yes. V. davidii plants are deer resistant, so if you live in the countryside and deer are around, you don’t have to worry about them damaging your plants.
When Should I Hard Prune Viburnum davidii?
Usually, they only require light pruning throughout the year, but there are cases when you might need to hard prune your viburnum shrubs.
Any shrubs that are particularly overgrown can be cut back.
If you do need to hard prune a viburnum plant, then you’ll need to do it in early autumn at the latest.
This is because the plant will need to develop some new growth in order to survive the winter.
References
- 1Viburnum davidii. (n.d.). Oregon State University. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/viburnum-davidii