2001 Theodore Klein Plant Award Winners

by Winston Dunwell

Viburnum 'Eskimo' is a selection from an original cross of V. x carlcephalum 'Cayuga' and V. utile. Eskimo viburnum was named and released by the US National Arboretum in 1981. Growing wider (10') than tall (6-7') this deciduous shrub of compact statue has yellow, red, orange fall color and coral fruit. Of course, the reason one grows this plant is for its fabulous dense creamy white flowers. The great mass of blooms in May are eye-catching both in the landscape and in the container at the garden center. The late blooming habit ensures the plant will be in bloom during peak season of Spring sales and in the landscape freezing damage common to some viburnums in Kentucky is avoided. While tolerant of diverse conditions, the USNA states that it "grows best in full sun to partial shade in a heavy loam with adequate moisture". Semi-hardwood cuttings, treated with 1000 ppm IBA, root in 4 weeks and it can be readily grown-on in containers. More information is available by going to http://www.usna.usda.gov/Newintro/eskimo.html