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Jack Viburnum - Viburnum X jackii Rehd. Family Adoxaceae (formerly placed in Caprifoliaceae) [Cirrus Home] [Tree Encyclopedia] |
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![]() Jack's Viburnum Foliage and Fruit |
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Viburnum (Viburnum) is a genus of about 150-175 species of
shrubs or small trees that were previously included in the
family Caprifoliaceae. Genetic tests by the Angiosperm
Phylogeny Group showed that they are correctly classified in
the family Adoxaceae. They are native throughout the
temperate Northern Hemisphere, with a few species extending
into tropical montane regions in South America and southeast
Asia. In Africa, the genus is confined to the Atlas
Mountains. The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire, toothed or lobed; cool temperate species are deciduous, while most of the warm temperate species are evergreen. Some species are densely hairy on the shoots and leaves, with star-shaped hairs. The flowers are produced in corymbs 5-15 cm across, each flower white to cream or pink, small, 3-5 mm across, with five petals, strongly fragrant in some species. The gynoecium has 3 connate carpels with the nectary on top of the gynoecium. Some species also have a fringe of large, showy sterile flowers round the perimeter of the corymb to act as a pollinator target. The fruit is a spherical, oval or somewhat flattened drupe, red to purple, blue, or black, and containing a single seed; some are edible for humans (though many others are mildly poisonous to people). The leaves are sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species. |

This specimen is Morton Arboretum
accession 415-82-1. It was started from a cutting 25
years ago.
| Most viburnums have either white or pinkish flowers which are sometimes fragrant. The flowers themselves come in three major types: Flat clusters of florets, Flat umbels outlined with larger flowers, resembling lacecap hydrangeas, and dome-shaped, snowball like clusters. Viburnums have long been one of the most popular flowering landscape shrubs. There are over 150 species of Viburnum. You can find a variety to suit any garden need: wet or dry, sun or shade, natural or formal, shrub or tree, native or exotic, USDA Zones 2-9. Bloom times span early spring through June and are followed by attractive fruit and outstanding fall foliage. |
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