Viburnums are a great shrub and, with more than 150 species and cultivars, there is one suitable for most gardens.
They can be deciduous or evergreen and usually have white or pink often-scented flowers followed by fruits that ripen to either black, blue or red berries.
Viburnum x burkwoodii has to be one the most fragrant of all the viburnums.
The white, pompom-like flowers usually appear in early spring and last for weeks, followed by red fruits.
A cross between V. utile and V. carlesii, Viburnum x burkwoodii forms a shrub up to about 3m in height.
It is easily grown in moist soils, providing there is good drainage, but prefers a moist, loamy soil with plenty of organic matter and, once established, can withstand some drought conditions.
Either full sun or part shade is fine.
Because of its highly fragrant scent, choosing a position in the garden where the scent can be most admired is important.
Plant it next to a garden path or an outdoor living area, if you have the space, even at the back of a narrow border, and you will still be rewarded.
Plants can be seen in the lower botanic garden between the Clive Lister Garden and Otaru Garden and in the Scented Theme borders.
• Stephen Bishop is curator of the Clive Lister Garden at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
