PlantFiles: Sweet Viburnum
Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki 'Chindo'

I live in the city of Atlanta planted three in 2000 for a side-fence screen -- full sun. They limped along through two droughts, growing ever taller although not as fully as some pictures I've seen. I too watched each spring for blooms that never came. Two years ago, a few compound flowers appeared on the lower branches. This year, after a wet winter, the trees are covered with the blooms. 100's! The bees are very happy. Me, too. I had read that this cultivar, like many others, needs to mature before it flowers. Seems to be true indeed.

I have been growing the Awabuki viburnum for about 6 years and have never had any flowers. The growth habit is rapid and the only problem has been our harsh winter this year but it is recovering nicely. I live in the Atlanta area and wonder if we are too cold for flowering?

I had a Chindo Viburnum planted in my garden in Marietta, GA about 3-1/2 years ago. It wasn't doing well in a pretty shady spot under some trees so I moved it to another location where it has greened up nicely even though it only gets morning sun for about 3 hours (unfortunately, the only truly sunny spot in my entire lawn is right in the middle of the front yard). I have found out that this viburnum is supposed to not only bloom with white flowers, but also set red fruit both of which has never occurred in the whole time it's been in the yard. Too little sun or does it need a mate?