There is nothing like the smell of a fragrant viburnum outside your bedroom window or off the end of your porch. As the wind blows the fragrance is carried throughout the yard.
There are a number of different fragrant Viburnums but two old time favorites, and the two that are still the best no matter what the ads say, are Viburnum Carlesi and Viburnum Carldephalum.
The easiest way to propagate fragrant viburnums is with softwood cuttings during the summer. Late spring and into the summer really depending upon where you are.
Here in Ohio zone 6 we start doing them around June 1st, absolutely no earlier. If you try and do them earlier they are likely to fail.
When you propagate plants via softwood cuttings you are using new growth. Growth from the current growing season.
That’s why you have to wait until at least June 1st. You have to give that new growth a chance to harden off just enough that they cuttings will stand on their own and not wilt over.
All of the details that you need about propagating via softwood cuttings here on my Homemade Plant Propagation System Page. And . . . we made a little movie about it here.
I know you don’t believe me, but I can promise you, if you had rooted cuttings of just about any plant to sell right now, there are people that would love to buy them from you. And I explain all of that in my system.
Here is a video on Allegheny Viburnum
Mike, Can you propagate Chinese Viburnum snowballs with hardwood cuttings? I just tried some in zone 7 wondering if they have a chance?
Mike,
Possibly, but they for sure do well as softwood cuttings in late spring/early summer. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
Hi Mike,
My mother has a viburnum carlecephalum probably more than 20 years old and is about 10 feet tall-3 feet wide. We are selling her house and I want to root some of the plant. It is the most fragrant plant I’ve ever smelled-so nice! Anyway, I got a Korean Spice (nice but not the same). I checked out your page on propagation, but need to clarify something. On the page showing step by step how to make a bed and then top with a fishtank, you say to use potting soil. But on the page for propagating softwood plants, you say to use a bed of very coarse sand. Can you tell me what is best to use?
Thanks!
Julie MIller
Julie,
It really depends on the soil, but I think sand is your best bet as long as you keep it moist.
Mike, I live in central Ohio and would like to grow a couple of chestnut trees on my property. Naturally the soil in my area is clay based. Is it possible to grow them?
Paul,
I’m sure you can, as long as the area isn’t soggy they should do fine.
Mike, I recently purchased Koreanspice Viburnum seeds from Amazon which came with no instruction for germination. From what I have read on the internet, the germination period is up to 18 months. Is this true and is there a way to propagate these seeds to a plant in one season? Or, should I feed the seeds to the birds and look for a plant? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Van,
Couple of things. I’m not sure that Korean Spice will come true from seed but it might. It’s possible that one of those seedlings could be unique, more interesting and possibly more fragrant. But the chances of that are pretty slim. Typically they are done from cuttings.
Not sure where you are located but in northern climates some of these fragrant viburnums will root, but getting through the first winter is really, really challenging.
If I were you, I’d find a plant and also find another fragrant viburnum like Juddi or Mohawk which are typically easier to grow.
See this on getting your seeds to germinate, they need to be stratified. https://sheffields.com/seeds-for-sale/Viburnum/carlesii/////
Hi just found the site and looking for an answer to a question posed to me. If air layering is used on something like viburnum, which is not self pollinating. Would the plants be able to pollinate each other?
Asking on behalf of my mother, zone 5 central Illinois. Thank you for your time.
Eric,
They really don’t need to pollinate to bloom and be fragrant. But they really are self pollinating to make berries.
I read through ALL the posts and didnt notice info re: Can Viburnum Carlesi and the other fragrant one be grown in Sarasota FL? If not, are there ANY highly fragrant vibes that will do well here in Sarasota?
And, what is a Joy perfume tree?
Jean,
Carlesii Viburnum are hardy from zones 4 through zones 8. If you are warmer than zone 8 it might not be a possibility. That seems to be the case for most of the fragrant viburnums. Never heard of Joy Perfume tree you’ll have to do some research on that one.
The Joy Perfume tree is also known as “Magnolia (Michelia) champaca”. It is so named because the fragrant flowers are used in Joy perfume! The tree originated in Asia. It grows well in Florida as I understand.
One could use the plastic salad mix containers that are 7 x 12 inches as tops and on a smaller scale for plant propagation. I am always looking for ways to reuse stuff.Last year when I broke off the top of a favorite heirloom tomato plant I stuck it in a large pot of potting soil and it made it and produced tomatoes I was surprised and happy to find. Thanks for sharing the aquarium idea.
Although I live in Alberta, Canada, you have very practical information for me which I have begun to make use of. Thanks much, and happy gardening to all!
Elaine, As a young girl, we called a cottonwood tree an umbrella tree. Maybe the same?
I am looking for a tree. The only name I have for it is an umbrella tree. My dad worked on the railroad and traveled a lot I have no clue where they came from. They do not get very tall and they do look like an umbrella. Thanks for any help you can give me Oh and they do not have beans a lot of people said that is what they are. I loved to climb them as a child and as I got older perfect shade trees. And thanks for all you do to help us out. = )
Elaine,
You could be describing any kind of weeping tree from weeping cherry, weeping mulberry, Camperdown Elm and the list goes on.
Camperdown elm was my thought as well…
the umbrella tree grow wild here in southeast Florida. when they are nature the will send out a red flower spike (very large) from the top of the tree. Its a red color flower spike. Umbrella tree – Schefflera actinophylla We have them in out yard. Are you looking for cuttings or rooted plants?
Do you silk have cuttings or plants for sale?
Check out the empress tree from China. They grow wild all over the South. They have big umbrella-like leaves and get beautiful purple fleets in the spring that turn to large bean-like seeds in the fall.
The Royal Empress tree (Paulownia) is one of my favorites. I ordered seedlings and planted them. All but one thrived and most of them grew 12 ft or more. I followed recommendations and cut them off at ground level in fall of first year. The next year the came back and all of them grew at least 18 feet that season. The leaves are enormous – about 2 ft across. Best source of green waste ever!
Paulownia are also highly invasive and as you see, grow like weeds yet are a tree that will grow tall and will quickly choke out almost all native plants and will completely change the natural ecosystem. Their seeds blow everywhere and quickly spread.
There is actually a law against knowingly planting them .and I used to know the statute but not sure off hand. Even if it wasn’t no one should knowingly plant them and should try to cut them and eradicate them, though I doubt that is very easy once they get established.
Elaine: schefflera is the name of the umbrella tree that is sold as an accent piece houseplant. Very, very popular in 1970s and 1980s. Everyone had them! Do not know if they grow outside as I am in the North, but I bet they would do well further South.
Nora,
I have no idea.
I think you do a fantastic job on the videos. Those”suggesters” should be offering such good advice as you do.
Thanks Chris, I appreciate your support.
Re: Birds not eating holly berries… My holly has a mockingbird nesting in it and chases all other birds away. You may have same or another aggressive bird.
Hello Mike, a related question about cutting or rather layering/cutting. Can you tell me what the maximum diameter a limb can safely be to layer successfully? I am looking at my brother in law’s apple, cork screw willow and False Weeping Sitka which he says I am welcome to try layering on.
Cheers, Michael
Michael,
For layering I don’t think I’d want to work with anything larger than 1/2″ in diameter. I’ve got more on layering at http://freeplants.com
I have one Korean Spice Viburnum in my yard. There is nothing else that compares with the scent of that one shrub.It was a mail order plant that probably fit in a sandwich bag when it arrived. Have had it for about 20 years now. It seems to level off at 4-5 feet tall. A few years ago I had to really cut it back due to some disease. It is back to about 4 feet tall and loaded with blossoms that should open in the next few weeks here in Massachusetts, Looking forward again to the wonderful fragrance.
I too have hundreds of little Japanese maples sprouting everywhere in in south jersey. What do i do with all of them?
Robert,
You should dig them when dormant and get them into pots. People will happily buy them from you.
I’d like to buy some.
I will buy some from you!
I’d like to buy some of the maples. I live in a hot, hot desert-like clime, but we use lots of irrigation.Altho I seem to have a bit of a brown thumb,I do want to try to grow some.
Bev,
Japanese maples need a dormancy period like we have here in Ohio. They can take some heat if planted in some shade, but they need to rest for the winter, not keep growing.
We have thousands of Japanese Maples in California. They are deciduous, so get to rest in the winter, but do not require the chill that lilac and tree peony need.
Do you still sell Japanese maples
I hope this will also work for a lilac bush. I have one with sentimental value that I want to share.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us! Don’t let the aholes get ya down! haha!
Mike
Is anyone interested in golden chain trees, I have 100’s growing in my beds; anything from this year to two year old. they are overruning everything……..
Bob Sulouff
Bob, I would love some Golden Rain Trees. Where are you?
Bob,
I would like to purchase some of the Golden Chain Trees.
I’ve never seen this type of tree but I will buy a couple of them from you.
I want to buy golden yellow chain trees
Hi Mike,
I have really enjoyed your website.
I appreciate the videos you provide, since I am a visual learner.
I live in Covington, Louisiana, Zone 9.
I have a Quamquat tree that really puts out the fruit.
My sister-in-law wants a cutting that is already rooted.
Can you please advise me as to how to go about this project?
Thank you in advance,
Mary Ann
Mary Ann,
I think you best bet is one of the methods done in mid May to early June. Stick way more cuttings than you need, that increases you chance of success. http://www.freeplants.com/homemade-plant-propagation.htm
RE: Fragrant Viburnum
Mike,
In the ad ‘type’ you strongly suggested in the DVD (not the plants but I looked at them too) one of your offerings was Snowball Viburnum and that was what I was expecting to see when clicking on the link. Is this viburnum even more fragrant than the Snowball? And does it grow in a nice tight pattern?
Thanks,
Pete
Pete,
Snowball Viburnum can mean a lot of different plants. There are lots of Viburnums, many of them have snowball type blooms. But Carlesi and Carlcephalum are by far the most fragrant of them all.
Thanks Mike; I decided to go with those two recommendations and will see you in the Rural township…
Pete
Mike,
What is the web address of your blog page?
Thanks again,
Pete
Mike, I am bringing in some bare root trees this spring and will be planting them in plastic grow bags. I bought both the white and the black to compare which are best. What is your opinion of them?
I agree with Bill. These are helpful videos and I enjoy them. So what if they aren’t “slick”…they’re unpretentious. While it’s one thing to politely make constructive suggestions, some people are just plain nasty and obnoxious. One reason why I’d always rather be outside with my plants than on the internet!
Keep up the good work, Mike.
viburnum is so fragrant!! I just love the scent that fills my yard! Mike I noticed in this video that you’ve lost a lot of weight. Where’s the rest of you? 😉 You’re looking great, and I hope you feel as healthy as you’re looking! Keep up the great work!!
Thanking you sir I am Ph.D holder candidate, but I by some family responsibility I am not working. I wanted to earn the money for my personal improvements and for needs.
I think we all owe Mike our appreciation and should’t be nit-pickin about phones,wind and typos. Your hard work and generosity are appreciated Mike. Thanks for all you do.
I totally agree with you .
This is a live and hands on video.
It is in real time.
I think Mike goes through a lot of heat, rain, snow, windy weather, etc. just to show us how to do all different types of planting, or rooting in all types of weather.
And besides i like hearing the wind blowing. 🙂
Mary Ann
Hello Mike I Really Enjoy Your Column, Learn A Lot Of Tips From You. I Have A Big Viburnum Name Burkewood, It Has The Most Glorious Smell. It’s Been Blooming For Two Weeks, And Still Beautiful .
Yes, Burkewood, also known as Burkwoodi is another fragrant viburnum. As well as Judi and I think Mohawk.
Hi Mike…love your question and answer site. I learn so many good things about plants that I never knew.I’m going out this week and find me some Viburnum bushes. Will let you know how they turn out. I live in Pa. zone 6
If someone thinks you are rude in not doing something in your videos they certainly don’t have to watch or listen! Even when I cannot hear the audio well I enjoy watching! Keep up the good work.
Beverly,
I am sorry about the audio and we’ll work on that. We do these things so spur of the moment, usually dropping what we are doing just to shoot a few minutes of video, we forget to grab the wireless mic etc. The audio I want to be better. Perfect, flawless video? I’m not that guy.
Thanks for the info on the Viburnum. I currently have quite a few “volunteer” Honey Locust trees that have decided to establish themselves in the weirdest places. I also have quite a few 4 o’ clock plants that seem to establish themselves along the foundation of the house and it’s a chore to move them every Spring. I dig them up and repot them. They get a little droopy for a couple of weeks and then go crazy. Love all your little videos and newsletters. Keep them coming Mike!
I think you do a wonderful job….no matter what some people write….your info is free and helpful and thats all that counts…..keep up the good work Mike!
Denise,
Thank you and everybody else that likes what I do. I appreciate all of you as well.
Zone: 4 to 7
Ah, well. Guess I’ll have to make-do with the citrus trees and pittosporum bushes here in Zone 11.
Me too. Although we can grow Ylang Ylang and Joy Perfume tree. Maybe we have the upper hand?
Me too. I’m also in Zone 11 – wet tropics where I live, VERY wet, hot and humid. Although we can grow Ylang Ylang and Joy Perfume tree. Maybe we have the upper hand?
Sorry, I tried editing my post – it went in twice instead.
Are you able to grow Mango and avocado? We are between San Francisco and San Jose, and get frost every so often.
Hy one day i will make sure i visit to ur farm.because u touch us import thing we refer to understand is money.Before the end of this year i come there, what is your change of one person ? thenks.
Hy one day i will make sure i visit to ur farm.because u touch us import thing we refer to understand is money.Before the end of this year i come there, what is your change of one person ? thenks.
Could you please let me know where you can receive the seeds for this type of tree.
Please would like to know
I have a little (what i was told was a) jasmine tree. It bloomed indoors for years filling the building with the beautiful scent. I am told that it is not possible to get more from Florida because of a quarantine of several years duration.
The viburnum is an outdoors version of my “jasmine” so i will be all over this opportunity when i can get it done.
My Asian friends tell me that i do not have a “jasmine”. Oh well.
Thanks for the tips. If you can shed light on the above situation i would be interested.
do you sell pussy willows over internet or by phone? thanks
Bobbi,
At this time I am not shipping any plants. We only sell locally.
I havent tried to sell pussy willow but my wife’s cousin has a full orchard I could talk to her and I’m sure she would sell some scions
Coffee trees have a white flower with a wonderful fragrance. I wonder if that is what you have?
Last fall I put an “air Propagator” on a five ft. cherry tree branch and left it there until spring. I cut it from the tree and planted it right away. That was only a couple mos. ago and I have a tree with blooms on it now. WOW
Janet,
That’s great! Glad to hear it.
Don’t you have to cut or scrape the branch a little before it will grow roots? and maybe cover the spot with soil and keep it wet? I want to make some new vibernums from mine because I am moving and can’t take them with me! AND is spring a good time to do this? If it works then ,I will sell some!
Phyllis,
Wounding a cutting on one side can help, but with softwood cuttings I don’t do that. Details on all of that here: http://www.freeplants.com/homemade-plant-propagation.htm
Hong’s “Air Propagator” work great too.
where can i get this plant
Terry,
My advice would be to call around locally. Somebody should have fragrant viburnum in stock.
Another favorite fragrance is Daphne. That would be a hot seller in California. I have cuttings of scarlet penstamon rooting in my backyard greenhouse. Hope to propagate enough for everyone in my church. They are already growing my heirloom tomatos.
How can I get some
I have pussy willow, ginko, red dogwood, and do know how to take cuttings and root them. I do sell trees and bushes as well as truck garden, and flea markets. Also farmers market,,, and they come here for produce and plants. We have a big rhubarb patch and sell the plants as well,,, that I grow from seed. I am an old woman and do not want to get so big that I have to hire someone to take care of the grounds. My husband and I have all we can care for. Thanks for your advice. I just wanted to know where I could get plants wholesale, to continue our small business. DONNA
good morning from Idaho, Boise area. I lost my grapes this past winter. How do I make new starts from other grapes.
thank you
Just put a little soil and a brick or rock on a grape vine and let the root start. Don’t cut from the main plant until rooted. I get new starts every year from the branches I’ve pruned and missed picking up.
Hi,
I live in Ohio and we had a bad cold winter. I took my cuttings from a BYGer and stuck them in a large tote with vermiculite and perlite and some peat . The watered them in well and I kept then inside as they we send Jan, as hard wood cuttings. they had leafed out by March 1,and I asked the person I got them from if I should pot them up and he said no. the leaves will come before the roots are grown. So now almost the beginning of May I have good roots so before they grow out the bottom of the tall tote I will pot them in good soil with peat and vermiculite in it.
Good luck Wait till the grape plants getdormant and then take your cuttings.
Viburnums are my favorite shrub! I planted a row of five Mohawks in front of my house, next to a fairly busy rural highway. They bloomed beautifully for about seven years but now all but two have died. The soil tested okay. The site gets very hot in the afternoon and evening, but I understand that shouldn’t have bothered them. Do you have any ideas about why they might not have survived? I fertilized every year with Plant Tone. Thank you for your help!
Hi Mike,
I have a question about viburnum. I do lots of bonsai trees. Can viburnum be made into a bonsai? It looks as if it has possibilities.
Thanks for any info.
David Stroud
Daid,
I’m sure they can. There are lots of different viburnum. Summer Snowflake might be a good variety to try.
When your cell phone rings while you are filming, you should turn it off IMMEDIATELY. Or, get rid of the cellphone and re-film . It is extremely rude and irritating to the audience. You should have better sense than to let that episode to to your audience.
Jonatha
I truly appreciate your sincere advice. But . . I’m busy. Didn’t anticipate a phone call, phone seldom rings, and I just didn’t have time to stop and start over. Seems to me it was an interruption of a few seconds. I’m not Stephen Spielburg. I’m a nursery who makes a few videos.
Judith,
I too want a jasmine tree…..let me know if you find one anywhere. My sister has one….maybe I can snip snip and propagate it?!
and Mike, your filming along with all its imperfections is fine with me. You are a regular guy, just like the rest of us, and life happens. Anyone without a sense of humor should just grow one! doris
Keep it up mike…your replies are very funny to the nitpickers.
Really? I think you are the rude one. He can answer his phone if he wants to.
I’m not the least bothered by the cell phone going off. It’s pretty normal. People (and me) forget the turn them off at mass and the priest once said -please turn your cell phones off! Everyone does it, it’s life as of today.
really Jonathan?
Where is your article about never digging up grass in dead spots Roundup and grass seed but when to use the seed
Kathy, here it is https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2010/09/quick-easy-technique-to-fix-areas-in-your-grass/
I can’t find the article asked about -never dig up a bare spot on the lawn—I just let the grass grow a little high so that it seeds itself and I have made really sparse lawns fill in and get full by letting the grass grow at least 6 ” before cutting. It usually happens in the spring during the wet season and I can’t get out to cut on time.
Mike – you have to get a wind screen for your microphone on your video system. Most of the sound is distracted by the wind.
I sent him an email a couple of years ago and told him the same thing! 🙂
Dear Mike,
Will Fragrant Viburnum do well in SE Oklahoma? My soil is very wet in the spring, but can get cement hard in the summer months. Do they require much water? I would really enjoy these plants, coming from Michigan as I do.
Thanks for your help.
Rev. Dibell
Robert,
As is the case with most plants, Viburnum will grow in your climate, but amending the soil and raising the bed a little would be a huge help. Not much thrives in wet soil that gets really, really hard in the summer.
just enough that they cuttings will stand on their own and wilt over. NOT? I found a typo. Is there anyway to fix it?
When you propagate plants via softwood cuttings you are using new growth. Growth from the current growing season. That’s why you have to wait until at least June 1st. You have to give that new growth a chance to harden off just enough that they cuttings will stand on their own and wilt over.
Thanks Sue, I’ll go back and fix that. And I proof read that article and all.
Why does my Holly tree still have berries? Birds didn’t eat them this winter
Catrhirine,
Hmmm? I really don’t know. If the birds usually eat them I’m not sure why they’d take a year off.
Do you possibly have an aggressive bird nesting in the holly? I have a mockingbirg who keeps all others away. Really most any bird is “territorial” especially when nesting. Before the mockingbird took up residence, my holly was like a fast food diner and all types of birds came and ate the berries in a matter of days.
Very intriguing. Where can I get one?
Don’t give up. I love reading your thoughts. Have got a lot of good information. Somethings I had forgotten. Hugs M
Thank you for this great info
Mike,
I wish I had time to plant in pots 1000 rooted cuttings.
i got red maples and gold cherry trees volunteering all over the place. i hate to run them over with my mower
Carolyn,
Time is money. Rooted cuttings don’t even have to be potted. Often times they are sold bare root right out of the propagation bed. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2013/03/how-to-make-65%C2%A2-per-square-inch-in-your-backyard/