When I went to Horticulture school in Vancouver we started in September. The largest and most challenging part of the curriculum was learning the 300 new plants. Learning to identify plants in the winter with no leaves, flowers or fruit was for the most part a new experience for all of us. After learning 20 new plants a week for weeks on end with nary a bloom or deciduous leaf in sight it was an absolute delight to find there really were some that dared to bloom in the depths of winter here. The first plant we actually studied when it was in bloom was Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’.
Bodnant Viburnum has a most interesting history. It has two already distinguished parents being; Viburnum grandiflorum(the pollen supplier) which is said to have lent it’s foliage and Viburnum farreri(formerly known as fragrans) which contributed it’s wonderful fragrance. This cross was originally done by Charles Lamont at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh in 1933. He didn’t think much of the resulting batch of seedlings and never propagated them. In 1934-5 the same cross was done at Bodnant Gardens and several forms of this crop are the ones we have come to know and love.
Bodnant Gardens is an 80 acre treasure trove of plant delights. It is famous for introducing many fine Rhododendron and Magnolias into cultivation. This was the ancestral property of Henry Duncan McLaren, 2nd Baron of Aberconway was an important contributor to horticulture and garden plant development in the 20th century
Wonderful clones were named, the first being ‘Dawn’ with pink buds opening to a paler pink blossom, next was ‘Deben’ which is a paler color and said to have a more graceful form. Finally a pure white form was named to honor ‘Charles Lamont’ after he died.
Bodnant viburnums bloom over a long period through winter and are at their peak at the end of January and into early February. This is the period which which these plants shine, during the summer they are background fillers for the most part. These are easy plants to grow requiring moist well drained soil. The best blooming is produced in dappled to full sun.
They grow to a substantial shrubs of 6-10ft(2-3m) height and 7ft(2m) width. For winter blooming shrubs they are very hardy and tolerate tempetures down to -15 to 20c (zones 5 though 8). They take well to pruning which should be done soon after they have finniished blooming. These plants can be used several ways, I have seen them well used as specimens, in mixed shrub borders and as hedging which has winter interest. They of course are mainly planted in gardens for winter interest.
For a treat you should take a blooming branch inside and enjoy the sweet spicy scent filling your house. This is what I did when i was in school and have loved the scent ever since.
Links Relatiing to this Article:
Everything you might want to know about Viburnum x bodnantense and how it came into being.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/harlowcarr/archive/harlowcarrpomdec.asp
H.D. McLaren, 2nd Baron of Aberconway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_McLaren,_2nd_Baron_Aberconway
Our Lady of Assumption Church at Brentwood Bay is where most of these pictures were taken. it is a spectacular location.
http://www.spparish.com/info/our-lady-of-assumption.htm
Bodnant Garden near Conwy Castle.
http://www.conwy-castle.co.uk/Attractions-near-Conwy-Castle/Bodnant-Garden.html
Until we meet again in the garden……
It’s my favorite Viburnum. I have two actually. It’s fragrance knocks my socks off. It blooms in March here in Z6 NJ
I’ve used that plant liberally myself when I’ve landscaped in the Northwest. The comment concerning the fragrance is totally correct – it rivals the Lilac. Great topic and very interesting…..thanks! Love your blog.
Hello!
Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource!
PS: Sorry for my bad english, I’v just started to learn this language 😉
See you!
Your, Raiul Baztepo
Hello !!!! ^_^
I am Piter Kokoniz. Just want to tell, that your blog is really cool
And want to ask you: what was the reasson for you to start this blog?
Sorry for my bad english:)
Thank you!
Piter.
In reply:
I started my blog because I already write for a newsletter about plants and I enjoy doing it. I also have been photographing and cataloging the plants of the area. I wanted to use my writing abilities and plant knowledge with some of the better pictures I take. This is the way I have chosen to do it. I decided to write about a plant each week which is looking really good right now and write about where you can find it.
I asked a friend (professional horticulturalist) to help me design my small front garden. I am particularly interested in having lush foliage which will ameliorate the grey brown render of the building and not specially concerned about bloom. He has put viburnam bodnantense on his list. So far I have found many pictures of the flowers, but none of the foliage, which makes me wonder if it is suitable for my purpose. What is your opinion?
Doanld
Very interesting, but still it is not clear to me whether Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’
and
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ are the same name for one species, or that ‘Charles Lamont’ is supposed to be white coloured. Tried to find that answer on many internet sides without succes. And at school… they safe money and loose quality.
Vincent
Charles Lamont as far as I know is white and I have seen this variety in bloom. I just do not have a good picture to post, maybe in the future I will be able add one.
I found this marvellous Bodnant viburnum (hybdrid Charles Lamont) on a cemetry near our house in Munich (http://persian-cat.de/?p=3780). Now I am curious if I can take a cutting from it to grow an entire new plant. What is the best time for this ? I guess early in the vegation period (March ?). Do I better cut of a young branch, or one of the older ?
greetings, Michael