Dirr apparently has the same concern. Under the section for V. carlesii (Korea), he shows V. b. as a "related species". He says V. b. (Korea, Japan) is somewhat similar to V. carlesii but "with smaller leaves, more slender stems, looser habit and smaller flowers". He says that V. b. is considered "inferior" to V. carlesii. He later says that he keeps "looking for definitive ways to separate this from V. carlesii." And that "the looser, laxer, more open inflorescence and stronger dentate serrations toward apex of the leaf are helpful" in distinguishing it. This is from the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Someone with a copy of his Viburnum book may have more recent remarks of his.

maturity occurs. when it occurs ... i had a kwanza cherry .. that took 6 years to get to bloom ... a plant has to grow the roots ... to grow the plant.. to get to a sufficient mass to feel secure in flowering ... it takes a lot of energy to get to reproductive age .. which is the whole point of flowers ... IMHO ... it will happen.. when it will happen .. no matter what your expectations are ... the fact that they flowered .. is a fair indication that next year ought to be better ... the reduced sun .. may make the quest toward maturity go a little slower ... as compared to the same plant in full sun .... bud set .. i was told... is the fall before .. and improper frost/freeze.. at just the wrong minute.. can impact the flowers the next season .. but the pix indicate to me.. its more of an age thing... and there isnt much we can do about the weather.. other than complain .... i am of the opinion ... that trees/shrubs/conifers need no supplemental FOOD ... unless a soil test indicates some deficiency in the soil ... otherwise.. they will take care of themselves ... your babes look otherwise very healthy ... i wouldnt mess with them ... good luck ken

Question - why aren't these propagated plants blooming. I can explain the one that is planted in my neighbors yard, and the closest pollenator is 300 feet away. But not sure about the others. Seed propagated plants should bloom - right? Lack of blooming would be associated with not enough sun or too young. It has nothing to do with how close another viburnum/pollinator is. Yes, seed propagated plants should bloom given the right sun conditions and age. The first two seem to get plenty of sun, so it might be age ... or do you have deer that might nibble the tips? Or perhaps your nursery plants are older than you think and were pruned at some point. Your seedlings just might not be old enough. Lack of fruit would be associated with either no blooms (of course) or poor pollination. Assuming you can get blooms, you should be able to get pollination if your original plants are setting fruit. The parents do still set fruit, right? You can always add other viburnums to your collection. If you get ones that bloom at the same time, that can only enhance your eventual cross pollination success. It doesn't have to be more v. dilatatum plants, other species that bloom at the same time would help. I have a V. dentatum 'Blue Muffin' and V. acerifolium that help each other set fruit.

I have a Viburnum maresii that I planted in 2005 too, Wendy. Mine has only had a smattering of blossoms on it and last year it had a little more and this year, it finally has almost full bloom. I have mine in challenging conditions. Near the drip edge of a Silver Maple with only about 3 hrs of sun in the morning and shade the rest of the day. So I thought it wasn't blooming because of the low amount of sun. Very happy to see full bloom this year! Finally! I have not fertilized at all until this year and I only added Alfalfa pellets and that was after it was already blooming. Since the area it is growing in is dry because of tree roots, I have paid particular attention to watering. The first year or two, it would occasionally wilt and perk up with watering. So when it gets too long between rain that is the first thing I think to water. I think Lisa's shrub does have the beginnings of horizontal branching. I think it is just small and hard to see because of the background. These are all going to be beauties when they grow up! :-)