I can't believe it is the last full week of 2018! You wouldn't know it is the middle of winter here in Michigan...temps are supposed to get up to the low-50s today. Makes for a nice trip into work. I'll take as many easy winter commutes as I can get, because I know we'll make up for it with plenty of white-knuckle drives in January and February.
It looks like Jane is already looking forward to next fall with her plant of the week post. But like she says, the winter months are a great time for garden planning.
I hope you have had a wonderful holiday thus far, and that your New Year is festive and safe.
See you in 2019.
- Natalie
More than just fall beauty.
Viburnum nudum is a native viburnum and has a lot to offer besides its elegant good looks.
The time for Brandywine™ Viburnum is more typically fall, when the glossy foliage turns burgundy and the abundant berries transform to pink, blue and purple. But now is a good time to think about making room for this lovely plant in your landscape planning. It's hardy to USDA Zone 5 and grows 5-6' tall and wide. Site it in full sun or partial shade.We initially selected Brandywine™ as a pollinator for one of our favorite plants, 'Winterthur'. Like many plants, Viburnum typically needs another selection of Viburnum nearby in order to fruit. Some require a plant of the same species, others are more open-minded.
Brandywine™ is unusual in that it fruits well without a pollinator, making it a good choice for places where there isn't room for several plants.
This is a good plant for moist to even boggy sites. Wildlife enjoys its fruit, and the Spring Azure butterfly may choose it as a host plant.
Like other Viburnum, it isn't especially tasty to deer although it isn't as deer-resistant as V. dentatum or maybe V. carlesii.
Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.
