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Viburnum didn't bloom this year

gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago

19 years ago

My Arrowwood Chicago Lustres (4 of them) didn't bloom this year, even though they bloomed last year. They look healthy and have new growth, but not even any flower buds. Can anyone tell me why? I'm just south of Chicago and it has been dry this year.

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Comments (8)

kaypea
19 years ago
I know that this is no help for your question but I was just going to post a message about Viburnums and pollinators.I just planted my first Viburnums(three of the same Chicago Lusters).They are blooming fine.But after reading the preceeding message,I'm wondering if the not blooming thing has something to do with this whole pollination thing.I've seen several posts on this and have to admit I'm totally confused.Am I to presume that my Chicago Lusters won't bloom next year unless I find some other compatible type of Viburnum to pollinate them?
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viburnumvalley
19 years ago
No, gracie, though in the initial growing season plants often expend energy on roots to become re-established and little/no energy setting future flower buds. This is quite a variable situation given the many ways plants are purchased, installed, and the type of sites they occupy.

And no, kaypea, failure to bloom has nothing to do with pollination; failure to fruit has everything to do with lack of pollination.

Rather than recycling all of it, I recommend you read (take coffee, No Doz, screaming children, ahead of time) the following link for some clarity on viburnums and pollination. It's long, but it says a lot that you may find useful.

Mostly, you both just need another clone/cultivar of V. dentatum that overlaps in bloom time with the V. dentatum you currently have. See some of the several posts on V. dentatum partners that are cruising this forum for the many choices you have with this species.

Here is a link that might be useful: Viburnums pollination, propagation, provenance: Oh my!
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gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks for your response. So if I don't get another V. dentatum I will never have blooms/fruit again?
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kevin_5
19 years ago
You will have plenty of blooms, very little fruit. Throw in another V. dentatum that overlaps in bloom, and you will have LOTS of fruit.
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happyhoe
19 years ago
Did you prune your viburnum in fall or spring? If you did you probably removed the flower buds.
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viburnumvalley
19 years ago
More discussion on successes and failures, derived from FAQs about viburnums (and plenty of other new shrub planting examples).

Blooming is not dependent on pollination. Fruiting is dependent on pollination (mostly). Blooming is dependent on the plant having/setting flowering buds, which can be removed by inadvertent untimely pruning or by lack of plant energy directed toward flower bud production (happens often after the first planting season, while the new transplant is re-establishing roots).
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viburnumvalley
19 years ago
bumping
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saon
17 years ago
I forgot to trim my viburnum right after it bloomed. It's now mid-June, droughtish, and the bush needs pruning. If I trim it now, will it bloom in the spring?
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