Common Name:

General Information

Viburnum farreri is an upright deciduous shrub that can grow up to 3 metres tall and is usually as wide as it is tall[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. A very ornamental plant[], it is particularly valued for its sweetly-scented flowers which are produced in the cold season and are said to be able to withstand temperatures down to -12°c without damage[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central China (Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang)

Habitat

Forests; at elevations from 1,600 - 2,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Viburnum farreri is a very hardy plant, able to tolerate winter temperatures down to about -20°c[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations[]. It prefers a deep rich loamy soil in full sun or in semi-shade[, ]. Best if given shade from the early morning sun in spring[]. Requires shelter from cold winds[].
The flowers diffuse a sweet and cloying perfume of heliotrope[].
The fruit is not often produced in cultivation[]. This may be due to the plant being self-incompatible and so growing 2 or more different cultivars together may improve fruit set[, ]. Hand pollination may also be beneficial as well as siting the plants so that they get the maximum of protection from severe winter weather[]. A west-facing wall or woodland edge would be ideal for this[].
The plants flower on terminal and lateral clusters of the current years growth, any pruning is best carried out in the spring[].
This species has long been known as Viburnum fragrans, but this name is invalid[]. It is closely related to Viburnum grandiflorum[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Well flavoured[]. A sweet flavour, but the fruit is often not freely borne[]. The oblong fruit initially turns yellow, maturing purple-reddish, it is about 8 - 10mm long and around 6mm wide[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking more than 18 months. If the seed is harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has fully ripened) and sown immediately in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring[]. Stored seed will require 2 months warm then 3 months cold stratification and can still take 18 months to germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of soft-wood, early summer in a frame[]. Pot up into individual pots once they start to root and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8 cm long with a heel if possible, mid summer in a frame[, ]. Plant them into individual pots as soon as they start to root. These cuttings can be difficult to overwinter, it is best to keep them in a greenhouse or cold frame until the following spring before planting them out[].
Cuttings of mature wood, winter in a frame. They should root in early spring - pot them up when large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if sufficient new growth is made, otherwise keep them in a cold frame for the next winter and then plant them out in the spring.
Layering of current seasons growth in mid summer. Takes 15 months[].