So bottom line 1 viburnum doesn't influence another's ability to flower, ONLY the berries, correct? Correct - flowering is affected by sun exposure and plant maturity. Viburnum x rhytidophylloides 'Allegheny' is the cultivar itself (as denoted by the single quotes around the name). The official name for Mohican is Viburnum lantana 'Mohican'. The key for cross pollination is overlapping bloom times - without that, it won't happen. And for some viburnums, they are not compatible even with overlapping blooms. Here is a link that might be useful: You might enjoy this thread

Viburnum fruit are quite edible (at least the ones that can be grown in the midwest that I've consumed) though they aren't all very tasty. Birds will most likely clean up all the arrowwood fruit soon after they ripen, so worrying about kids/fruit shouldn't be a problem. Rachel: get a compact V. carlesii in addition to the V. x juddii, and you should have appropriate partners for future fruiting. As far as what people should know: I've been a horticulturist about 20 years, and a landscape architect (including school) for about 10. I can't claim to know everything, but I darn sure try to learn it when it's obvious that I don't and need to. Same with this instance. Learning all the viburnum lore came with first attraction to the possibilities of the genus, and then the need to make all the possibilities happen when the plants were acquired and planted. I had the advantage of many years of acquiring texts on woody plants, so a little reading got me steered in the right direction. Not every plant/design professional is so oriented (unfortunately) and sometimes only is exposed to the knowledge level of those they work with, or the limited amount of information that can be provided during the short time in school. I admire, and look for in those I work with or hire, that thirst for CONTINUING LIFELONG EDUCATION (of which GW is one additional source) which illustrates a passion for higher standards and results. It is promising that the landscaper you admire bothered to source more info for you. It is not promising to suggest that you are overthinking things. I'd be interested in hearing what "tons of viburnums" she plants; what clones of which species; and what happens when she only plants one clone of a species that is rarely represented in Chicagoland. There is the rub. To make the point, you also might ask her if it is overthinking things to only plant Ilex verticillata Winter Red, and no male pollinator, especially if you are in a relatively isolated locale. I bet the various clones of V. dentatum are well represented around Chicago, since several of them were selected there and have been planted for years. Not so with quite a few others though, like V. nudum Winterthur. You may NEVER see fruit on this fine plant without a dissimilar V. nudum around, since it blooms quite a bit after almost every other common viburnum species. So.......you are on the right track, and hopefully have many more viburnum experience opportunities ahead. And, if you've helped a design/landscape professional learn a little something along the way, the world will be a better place for it.

Fifty feet should be fine.

Hi, I want to plant edible, non-cultivar viburnums which are native to my local area (Northern New Jersey). These would be: V. lentago (Nannyberry); V. Prunifolium (Blackhaw); & V. trilobum (Cranberrybush). In addition, I would plant V. nudum (Witherod) which is not edible. QUESTION: Must I plant a pair of EACH individual specie in order for polination to occur for fruiting, or will they mutually polinate eachother, despite being different species? Note: I do understand that when they are of the same specie, them must not be too closely related (i.e. two Viburnum lentagos must not come from the same mother plant); I am just wondering if, for instance, V. lentago and V. nudum, etc. could sucessfully polinate eachother. Thanks, Steve p.s.: If anyone is growing an American Persimmon or Salix discolor that is greater then 20', please let me know - I'm looking for a full photo beyond the score of what I could find online.