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Flowers after the leaves unfurl!

Viburnum carlesii Spice Island™

A provocative blend of spices and vanilla come together to make this one of the most fragrant ornamentals on the planet! This viburnum never stops giving: beginning with pink buds that open to clusters of white flowers and finishing with brilliant shades of burgundy and red leaves that make the entire plant look like its on fire in the fall. This would definitely be our pick if we could only choose one

Have you ever wondered what you would plant if there was only room for one in your outdoor space? High on my list would be something with amazing flowers. Yes, flowers with a tantalizing fragrance that could be carried on the breeze. Something I could plant along a walkway so that every time someone passed by, the sweet aroma would captivate him or her. Maybe a plant that was compact enough to place near a window so I could breath in the fragrance on a spring day.

Viburnum Spice Island™ offers all of these nuances and so much more! Delightfully fragrant, pink buds open to white snowball-like clusters. And unlike many viburnum carlesii, this variety blooms with its leaves fully expanded as a backdrop, enhancing the beauty of the flowers. And as the warm summer breezes make way for crisp autumn air, Spice Island’s™ leaves turn to brilliant shades of burgundy and glowing red. A compact grower, Spice Island™ is slow to mature, perfect for garden paths, smaller spaces and as a specimen plant.

Please note: We don't sell plants. Asking your local retailer or googling the plant name is the easiest way to find someone selling our plants.

Please note: Download hi-res photos from the photo gallery at the bottom of the page.


Who Am I?

  • Common Name

    Spice Island Korean spice bush
  • Botanical Name

    Viburnum carlesii ‘Select A’
  • Type

    Shrub
  • Bloom Time

    Mid-Spring
  • Bloom Color

    White

Cultural Details

  • Bloom Time

    Mid-Spring
  • Size

    4-5' tall by 4-5' wide
  • Hardiness Zone

    5-9
  • Light

    Full sun (6 hours) to partial shade
  • Soil

    Average garden soil
  • Moisture

    Moist, but well drained
  • Disease & Pests

    None known
  • Landscape Use

    Foundations, mixed borders, specimens, urban gardens
  • Propagation

    Cuttings
  • Pruning

    Viburnums flower in spring, so if they need any shaping or to have dead branches removed, be sure to do that before August, or right after flowering in the spring