Viburnum Dilatatum Cardinal Candy

Writen by Alan Summers

Cold hardy, disease resistant and beautiful - what more could you ask for?

In the winter of 1990, the temperature at Rodney Henneke's farm in Indiana dipped to 30 degrees below zero. Henneke, a plant breeder, had grown several Virburnum dilatatum from seed. The extremely cold temperatures killed all of the plants except for one - 'Cardinal Candy.' From the moment he discovered this, Henneke knew he had a very special plant.

'Cardinal Candy' will bring beauty and interest to your garden for all four seasons year after year. From late spring into summer, it will be smothered in shiny dark green leaves and creamy white flowers. The small flowers are clustered in 5 inch flat heads and are absolutely outstanding. In mid-late summer, bright red berries replace the flowers - these are the true highlight of 'Cardinal Candy.' The abundant, glossy red fruits are produced without a pollinator and will light up your garden throughout autumn, often right into mid winter. They are so shiny, that you'll think they've been dipped in lacquer. The autumn foliage is russet red - enhancing the berry display in October and November.

'Cardinal Candy' will mature into a well-branched, rounded shrub reaching 6 feet high and wide. It will adapt to most soil types and does best in full sun to part shade. 'Cardinal Candy' will fit nicely in most any landscape, especially as a background plant in the perennial garden, in a border or as a specimen plant. It is extremely durable and virtually maintenance free. We often use Viburnum 'Cardinal Candy' combined Viburnums 'Blue Muffin' and 'Michael Dodge' where moderate-sized deciduous screening is called for. The combination of red, blue and yellow berries is quite striking indeed. We guarantee that you will love 'Cardinal Candy!'

Planting and Care

Extremely cold hardy - Zones 4-7.

Choose a spot in full sun to part shade.

Will adapt to almost all soil types, but well-drained is best.

Fertilize with Cottonseed Meal and Kelp Meal in late fall and early spring.

Click here to view 'Cardinal Candy' on the Carroll Gardens website.

Alan Summers, president of Carroll Gardens, Inc., has over 30 years experience in gardening and landscape design. He has made Carroll Gardens one of America's preeminent nurseries, having introduced more than 20 new perennials and woody shrubs over the years and reintroduced numerous "lost" cultivars back to American gardeners.

Carroll Gardens publishes a weekly online newsletter written by Alan. It contains valuable gardening advice and tips and answers to customer questions. Click here to sign up for the Carroll Gardens weekly enewsletter.

Every Saturday, Alan hosts a call-in gardening forum on WCBM radio - 680 AM. For those outside of the WCBM listening area, they can listen to radio show via the internet.

Visit CarrollGardens.com to learn more.

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