Here at Revolutionary Gardens World HQ, we refer to Judd Viburnum (Viburnum x juddii) as “the drunk dial plant.” Here’s why:
Way back when I first started the business, we did a Culpeper landscape installation in the springtime. The clients have a curved deck, and around the perimeter of the deck I planted a row of Judd Viburnum. That Sunday night, my phone rang at 9 pm. Nowadays I would NEVER answer the business line at 9 on a Sunday, but I was a rookie. Anyhow, it was my client.
“Dave, it’s *****!” he slurred. “we have some friends out on the deck and everyone needs to know what this is that you planted because it smells $%^$ing AMAZING!”
Judd Viburnum DOES smell “$%^$ing amazing”. He’s not wrong. In the springtime, reddish pink buds appear on the branches and open into beautiful white flowers. The fragrance is hard to describe, but if you love lilac? This is better. For real.
As with a lot of viburnums, Judd Viburnum isn’t a wee plant. It grows 6 to 8 feet tall, and up to 10 feet wide. It can be pruned into a smaller shape, but – why? You’re busy enough, just leave room for the plant. Full sun is great for Judd Viburnum all the way to part sun. If you get too shady, you lose flowers and if you lose flowers you lose the fragrance and if you lose fragrance? It’s just sad.