Growing in north central Fl. zone 8. We have lived in this house since March 15th of this year. I have watched these shrubs very closely for bloom. Nada. I was positive they were sweet viburnum & was really excited b/c I love the scent. Now I'm not sure they are. Let me say that they were trimmed to within an inch of their lives when we bought the house but I have let them grow hoping for the bloom but nah, nothing, no bloom, not even inconspicuous bloom. What say you?






New growth has a reddish tint to the leaves

flaflwrgrl:

From what I can see of your plant - and reading descriptions of Viburnum odoratissimum, since it doesn't grow here in KY - I think that is what you have. Take and crush a leaf, and see if it has a distinctive aroma. That should aid in the ID as well.

Since you stated "...that they were trimmed to within an inch of their lives when we bought the house..." and that you moved there in March, I'd surmise that all this year's flower buds were pruned off. Let them grow out of that, and you should have flowers next spring.

The only other advice I'd offer is: this is apparently a really big Viburnum (20-40'; 6-12 m) where it is happily growing, and you may not be able to offer it enough room to grow freely in that spot close to the house.

Thank you very much John. I just needed someone to back me up on the ID since they had not bloomed since we have been living here. Yes, I figured since they have been kept so severely trimmed that was the reason they had not bloomed.
I completely forgotten about the scent when leaves are crushed or stems are cut. It is distinctive -- sort of peppery. Thank you for reminding me!

PS, they take well to severe trimming as hedge material here in Fl. The ones (& there are quite a # of them) here have been planted for 12 years now & getting a regular crew cut for that length of time. I am going to let them get a little larger & let them bloom. I hope to move them all away from the house in the next few years & let them "be all that they can be".

Make sure you share some of those images when they join your Army...

Will do.