Viburnum setigerum ‘Aurantiacum’

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Viburnum setigerum ‘Aurantiacum’

Family: (Adoxaceae)

Hardy Shrub to 12′ tall and 8′ wide.  Tea Viburnum.  C & W China.  This rounded, multi-stemmed, upright-arching, deciduous shrub has three to five-inch pointed, slightly toothed, blue-green leaves that were once used to make tea.  Small white flowers appear in terminal, flat-topped, two-inch cymes in spring.  The real show begins in late summer with copious cluster of bright orange, ovoid berries that persist well into early winter.  Berry production is often so abundant that it causes the stems to arch downward from the weight.  In fall the leaves turn reddish brown to deep purple and nicely complement the orange berries.  Sun and high shade.  3 & 6 (64-72° for 8 weeks then 25-39° for 12 weeks), then T1 until germination-can take up to 18 months to germinate.