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Clusters of pink buds opening to white flowers on a Korean Spice Viburnum.

Type

Well-Adapted

Sunlight Type

Full Sun, Part Sun / Shade

Soil Type

Average, Well-Drained / Sandy

Attracts

Butterflies

Benefits 

Fragrant, Deer Resistant, Flowers

Korean Spice Viburnum

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The Best Smelling Shrub in the World

That is a bold claim, but Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) earns it. In spring, pink buds open to white snowball-like flowers that release an intoxicating perfume of spice cake and vanilla. The scent can fill an entire yard. It is a neat, rounded shrub with attractive dark green foliage that turns wine-red in fall.

Why You Need It:

  • Fragrance: Plant it near a window or patio to enjoy the incredible scent.
  • Fall Color: Offers reliable, deep burgundy autumn foliage.
  • Deer Resistant: Generally ignored by deer.

Planting Tips:

Thrives in Sun to Part Shade. It prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soil. It is slow-growing, so buy the largest size your budget allows.

     

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