Blue Muffin Viburnum pollinators?

17 years ago

Hi all, we ordered by mail a Blue Muffin Viburnum in the spring. I actually thought I had ordered three, but I made a mistake and only ordered one.

Now, i thought that I needed more than one Blue Muffin in order to get berries but the man at my local nursery says Viburnum doesn't need a pollinator. I'm confused. Is there a definitive source for answers to these questions?

Please advise.

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Comments (5)

basic
17 years ago
The Viburnum experts have moved in with Dave and don't visit anymore, but they did a bang-up job explaining everything Viburnum on this thread. Bottom line is you'll need another (but not Blue Muffin) to maximize fruit production.

Here is a link that might be useful: Viburnum mates
anita55
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you for a very informative thread. It's just what I needed. So technically the nurseryman is right, but for best fruit I should get another different viburnum.

I'm not a regular here, so who is Dave? and why don't they visit here anymore?
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All viburnums benefit from cross pollination. What you have are CULTIVARS - cultivated variations of the species. The key to cross pollination is to have overlapping bloom times. Therefore, a good bet is to use something in the same family. You can use "straight species" plants as cross pollinators or another cultivar. Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' would do well with a Viburnum nudum or Viburnum cassinoides (sometimes called Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides). Or with your existing Viburnum nudum 'Brandywine'. 'Blue Muffin' happens to be a cultivar of Viburnum dentatum. Only if it blooms at the same time as your 'Winterthur' and 'Brandywine' will you get the cross pollination. You could get a species Viburnum dentatum or Viburnum dentatum 'Red Feather' or 'Morton' (sometimes called Northern Burgundy) or 'Chicago Lustre'. There are others too. Because of overlapping bloom times, I've even had my 'Blue Muffin' cross pollinated by my Viburnum acerifolium.
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I can see this is an older thread - but hope I might still get some info/advice: I planted a Blue Muffin about 3 years ago - but in a NE exposure in a foundation area at front of my home - as it was just what I wanted for the spot. Its sun is also reduced somewhat from the shadow/overhang of the house. I haven't had any flowers or berries (though I have an arrowhead and some others in my backyard, though unfortunately none on the list of viburnum pollinators in this thread) - though the plant has been in good health. In current circumstances, am I at all likely to get flowers/berries, - or do I need to re-site it? I took a tug at it today with my fork - and the roots seem pretty well-developed. It's also been growing 'straight up' - and I'd like to prune it a bit for some shape at this time - whether it stays where it is or I move it - I assume that won't affect the 'lack of' flowers/berries this year (!); ie, I assume w/o flowers I won't get berries. Thank you for any information or advice those on this forum can offer. 'Much appreciated.
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You need flowers to get berries. Give the plant a chance to mature and you will see more flowers and thus more fruit. It blooms on old wood so don't prune too hard after July 4th or you will remove the flower buds. For me Chigago Lustre works fine and I get good crops of fruit on both plants. Also be aware that that weather has an influence on the amount of fruit produced; If there is poor wet, rainy, or very hot weather during the blooming time, there tends to be less pollination and thus less fruit. If the weather is good, mild etc. the opposite is true. Every years is unique.
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...which is what will happen to those "black twigs". Those are the ends of the pedicels, where the flowers used to be. If the flowers had been pollinated, you would have fruit forming there. The "black stuff" may very well be just the old flower parts that have fallen. They would rub off in flakes. I suggest your plant is perfectly healthy. Post a picture of the whole plant if you can, but I don't believe that there is anything that you need to be worrying about. Other than getting another different Viburnum dentatum clone so that you (and birds) will have ripening fruit to enjoy instead of leftover spent pedicels turning black.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
17 years ago
The two viburnum experts left with a great many other gardeners when this site was acquired by I Village. I'm thinking of going myself. They went to the garden forum at the same site that Garden Watchdog is at--it's Dave's Garden, I think.

Viburnums do need pollinators for berry production--and 'Red Feathers' is a good pollinator for 'Blue Muffin'.
anita55
Original Author
17 years ago
thanks.
Iris GW
17 years ago
As you saw from the linked thread, viburnums fruit best when there is another viburnum blooming at the same time (overlapping bloom times). My Blue Muffin is near my group of Mapleleaf Viburnums and for two years in a row they have helped each other set fruit. And then the deer promptly eat the berry clusters off the Blue Muffin!!

Next year, perhaps I'll drape netting over them. Enjoy!

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Blue Muffin Viburnum pollinators?

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basic

anita55
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Blue Muffin Viburnum pollinators?

Comments (5)

basic

anita55Original Author

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laceyvail 6A, WV

anita55Original Author

Iris GW

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

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anita55
Original Author

anita55
Original Author