Judd viburnum

Questions about judd viburnum

Does judd viburnum need sun or shade?

Judd viburnum grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day) and part sun (4 to 6 hours of sun, including some afternoon sun).

It wants ordinary well-drained soil, of average fertility, and a good soak in dry spells. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does judd viburnum grow in?

USDA zones 4 to 8. It is hardy to zone 4, which means it survives winter nights down to about −20 °F (−29 °C).

Above zone 8 it struggles: the zones measure winter cold, but a plant's top zone usually means the summers are too hot or the winters too mild for it to rest.

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does judd viburnum flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers early May to mid May. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should judd viburnum be planted?

6 ft (180 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 6½ ft (200 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 6½ ft (200 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many judd viburnum plants do I need?

Usually one. At 6 ft (180 cm) across, it is a plant you place, not one you mass. For a hedge or screen, set them 6 ft apart: two plants for a 10 ft run.

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is judd viburnum poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to NC State Extension.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like judd viburnum?

Judd viburnum is not native to North America. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Carolina allspice: the same job in a bed; 16 in taller, 8 in wider.
• American beautyberry: the same job in a bed and the same colour; 12 in narrower, flowers late June to late July.
• Flowering currant: the same job in a bed and the same colour; 12 in narrower, flowers late March to late April.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat judd viburnum?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

What flowers after judd viburnum?

Judd viburnum is over by mid May. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• Peony: from late May to late June, 3 ft tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems (a recorded partner).
• Catmint 'Walker's Low': from mid May to mid September, 24 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems (a recorded partner).
• Blue false indigo: from late May to mid June, 4 ft tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.

What does judd viburnum look like in winter?

Judd viburnum drops its leaves and stands as bare branches. That is when to see its shape, and to prune it if it needs pruning.

Is judd viburnum good for bees and butterflies?

Judd viburnum is visited by bees, butterflies and songbirds.