Monday, March 2, 2009

Viburnum Rhytidophyllum

By Victoria Katelyn

The perfoliate honeysuckle is a stem-twining, climbing shrub growing to a height of several metres. The light brown bark on the stem peels off in long, longitudinal strips. The twigs are slender and hollow, the buds opposite, ovate, with pointed tips. The long flowers appear at the end of May and emit a strong fragrance, especially in the evening. The red fruits ripen from August onwards and are soon dispersed by birds. Widespread mostly in southern Europe, it extends north to southern Germany and the warmer regions of Czechoslovakia, growing there at the edges of forests, in thickets and in open broadleaved woods.

This species is a native of central and western China and was introduced into Europe as an ornamental at the end of the nineteenth century, nowadays being planted in the parks of central and western Europe. The large leaves are very decorative and remain on the shrub throughout the winter, thus augmenting the poor selection of European evergreens in parks. It is a suitable subject for a tall green screen, green backdrop and for filling in odd spaces, for it tolerates moderate shade. During severe winters the foliage can be damaged by frost. Another evergreen species cultivated in Europe is Viburnum utile, likewise of China, which grows only to a height of 1.5 m, has 3-6 cm-long elliptical leaves and bears clusters of white flowers in April. It is one parent of the popular garden hybrid V. x burkwoodii, which bears strongly fragrant, pink-budded, white waxy blooms from February to May.

Not only does it have lovely fragrant blossoms but also attractive red fruits. To bear a profusion of flowers, however, it requires a sunny and warm situation. It is readily propagated by means of seeds as well as by cuttings. It is hardier than the common honeysuckle (L. periclymenum). Crossed with the related species L. etrusca, it yielded the hybrid x L. americana with striking purple flowers.

Honeysuckle is a stem-twining, vigorous climber growing to a length of 5-8 m and sometimes to an age of 50 years, when it develops a thicker stern. The twining stem is capable of choking and even strangling weaker trees. The shoots are yellowish to reddish, the buds opposite, standing out from the twig at an angle.

Beneath the buds is a clearly discernible leaf scar. The attractive, fragrant flowers appear in June and July, the fruits ripen in September and October. This shrub is widespread in southern and western Europe, its range extending as far as northern Africa and Asia Minor. In western Europe it is most plentiful on fertile soils in riverine woods, also occurring on shrub-covered banks and at the edges of forests.

It bears a great profusion of flowers if provided with abundant light, but tolerates partial shade. It requires warmth and the shoots are easily damaged by frost. It is widely cultivated as a vigorous, ornamental climber in parks and gardens, where it is used to cover fences, walls and pergolas. Propagation is by means of seeds and cuttings. The variety serotina has dark red flowers. - 16035

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