A long succession of modest flowers in spring, then foliage that takes over with autumn colour: the doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum ‘Watanabe’) is an easy 3-metre shrub for a flowered hedge, a standalone position or a shrub bed. Give it cool soil out of harsh sun and it blooms from late spring into mid-autumn.
| Name | Viburnum plicatum v. tomentosum ‘Watanabe’ |
|---|---|
| Family | Adoxaceae (formerly Caprifoliaceae) |
| Type | shrub |
| Height | 10 feet (3 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun or part sun |
| Soil | ordinary, well drained |
| Foliage | deciduous |
| Flowering | late spring to mid-autumn |
Planting, caring for it and pruning contribute a lot to the proper growth of the Viburnum plicatum Watanabe.
Preferably in fall but also in spring for specimens purchased in containers.
Set the top of the root ball flush with the surrounding soil, as a buried collar invites rot on this shrub.
Water generously through the first dry spells that follow planting.
They don’t need any pruning.
Wait for the blooming to end if you wish to reduce or reshape the shrub.
The tiered, horizontally layered branching is what makes this viburnum distinctive, so avoid shearing it into a ball or a flat-faced hedge.
Cut back to a side branch or a junction rather than leaving stubs partway along a horizontal limb.
Dead, broken or crossing stems can be removed whenever you notice them.
The ‘Watanabe’ viburnum is a very beautiful shrub which has a blooming as magnificent in spring as its foliage is in fall.
As part of a flowered hedge, as a standalone or in shrub beds, its growing and maintenance is easy.
You’ll also appreciate its humble but durable blooming for a very long time, from May to October.
Also part of the Viburnum family is laurestine often found in our gardens, as well as Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Mariesii’ which hosts spectacular blooming.
Avoid locations that are too exposed to harsh sun. Viburnum plicatum ‘Watanabe’ needs relatively cool soil to develop well.
Mulch the base with bark or leaf mould to keep the root zone cool and damp through summer.
Doublefile viburnums branch in horizontal tiers, but ‘Watanabe’ is a compact, more upright cultivar that suits smaller spaces, so it needs only modest elbow room for its layered form to show.
Water it through dry spells while it establishes.
Viburnum beetle larvae skeletonise leaves from the underside in late spring and early summer, though Viburnum plicatum is generally rated resistant, so check the foliage but expect little damage.
