Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun and will tolerate partial shade

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Late Autumn to Early Spring

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 3m

Hardiness: 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Adoxaceae

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is an upright, deciduous shrub with ovate to oblong toothed, dark green leaves. Throughout the winter sprays of sweetly scented pink tubular flowers are borne on its bare branches. They are virtually sterile producing a few small black or purple fruit.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ Flower (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’, commonly known as the Bodnant Viburnum, was produced in the 1930s by crossing Viburnum grandiflorum with the fragrant species Viburnum farreri. The cross was first attempted by Charles Lamont at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh in 1933, however he was thoroughly unimpressed with his results and did not propagate his seedlings. Shortly after in 1934 the cross was repeated in the Bodnant Gardens producing what we now call Viburnum x bodnantense. The first clone produced was ‘Dawn’ followed by ‘Deben’ and finally a pure white form was produced to honour ‘Charles Lamont’ after he died.

The etymology of the binomial name Viburnum is the Latin name for the Wayfaring Tree. Bodnantense is derived from the inter species cross being created in the Bodnant Gardens.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is useful to the landscape architect for its unusually long and fragrant winter blooms, carrying on from autumn through the winter and on into early spring.

Ecologically, Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ provides a valuable source of nectar for insects during the winter months.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ Leaf (29/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ requires little maintenance. To encourage healthy growth, older shoots can be removed to ground level after flowering to give space to the younger more vigorous shoots.