General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10a
Plant Height: 15 - 25 feet
Plant Spread: 15 - 25 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Fragrant
Broadleaf
Other: leaves fragrant if crushed as are the stems when cut or broken. The fragrance has a peppery aspect to it; not unpleasant
Fruit: Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Single seeded red drupes, maturing to purplish-black.
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Blooms on new wood
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Street Tree
Xeriscapic
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Shade Tree
Flowering Tree
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Butterflies
Resistances: Pollution
Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Layering
Other: roots easily
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Not suitable for containers
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Sweet Viburnum
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Viburnum odoratissimum
  • Synonym: Viburnum chinense
  • Synonym: Viburnum odoratissimum var. arboricolum
  • Synonym: Viburnum odoratissimum var. sessiliflorum

Photo Gallery
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-04-05

Date: 2018-08-06
{"colorSpace":"kCGColorSpaceDisplayP3","cameraType":"Wide","macro
Location: Fairfax, VA | June, 2022
Date: 2022-06-03
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Date: 2016-04-06
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Date: 2016-04-06
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-04-02
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-08-16

Date: March 22, 2011
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-07-27
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-07-27
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Date: 2016-04-06
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-26
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-26
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-26
 stem of current years growth
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-26
stem of older growth
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-26
underside of leaf
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-07-24
newer leaves can have a reddish tint to them
Photo by robertduval14
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-02-14
Location: My backyard
Date: March 27, 2011

Date: March 22, 2011

Date: March 22, 2011
Location: Botanical Garden Delft (The Netherlands)
Date: 2017-03-25
Location: Botanical Garden Delft (The Netherlands)
Date: 2017-03-25
Comments:
  • Posted by flaflwrgrl (North Fl. - Zone 8b) on Jul 28, 2013 12:04 PM concerning plant:
    This can be either a hedge planting, a very large shrub, or a small specimen tree.
    Leaves are opposite & dense, smooth & medium bright green, but are not shiny.
    A rapid growth rate & drought tolerance make this a fine plant. If you desire a small tree, you can prune it for a multi-stemmed trunk or prune it for a single stem trunk.
    It bears oval berries in the fall, which turn from red to black, but fruiting is more common among mature plants.
    These make wonderful privacy hedges & also block noise. They can attain 20' height as hedges, so they also can serve as windbreaks if desired.
    For planting around the house as hedge material, plant them 4 feet from the house and 3 to 4 feet apart.
    Native to Asia.
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Dec 3, 2011 12:17 AM concerning plant:
    Sweet Viburnum can be grown and pruned as a shrub or left to grow as a small tree that can reach 20' in height. It has green stems with opposite bright green leaves and white wonderfully fragrant flowers that appear in spring. It is popular as a single specimen plant, as well as mass planted to form a dense hedge. In some areas it is commonly used as a hedge to form a buffer to deter highway noise in neighborhoods that border on busy roadways. Many years ago we planted a hedge of Sweet Viburnum on one side of our property that borders the roadway. It hasn't been pruned in years and is currently about 18' tall. Sweet Viburnum is drought tolerant once established.

Plant Events from our members
piksihk On May 24, 2023 Obtained plant
I believe this is the most me that froze back; new growth from base.
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