Viburnum trilobum ‘Wentworth’
Wentworth cranberrybush viburnum
During our long, cold Hudson Valley winter, I have been captivated by this selection of our native cranberrybush viburnum. On my beaten path from house to nursery entrance, this shrub greets me daily with cheery bright red fruits.
Its winter therapeutic value is immeasurable. The dangling cranberry-like fruits are used for making jams and jellies, so it’s puzzling why birds haven’t feasted on them by this late winter date. Unlike so many of my favorite crabapples and winterberry hollies that have lost fruit color or been eaten come March, ‘Wentworth’ cranberrybush viburnum shines and won’t be upstaged until spring truly arrives.
Height/Habit: 8 to 10-foot-high with a sturdy rounded, multi-stemmed habit.
Foliage: Young bronzy red foliage matures to 3-lobed, lustrous dark green leaves.
Flowers: Lacecap, 3-inch-wide, flat-topped flower clusters bloom in May.
Diseases/Insects: Good resistance to viburnum aphids and beetles in our gardens.
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