Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)
The Wayfaring Tree is a large bush which grows upright or funnel-shaped, with semi-circular creamy white cymes and red stone fruit. It produces a pungent smell. The oblong leaf is woolly grey after sprouting, turning green-yellow or vermillion in autumn.
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Appearance
The Wayfaring Tree is a large bush which grows upright or funnel-shaped, with semi-circular creamy white cymes and red stone fruit. It produces a pungent smell. The oblong leaf is woolly grey after sprouting, turning green-yellow or vermillion in autumn.
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Spring
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Leaves
Ovate, stalked leaves, 8-14cm long, 5-8cm wide, leaf stem 1.0-2.0cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are dull green above, grey-green below, turn a decorative yellow, red or orange colour in autumn.
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Leaf upperside
Ovate, stalked leaves, 8-14cm long, 5-8cm wide, leaf stem 1.0-2.0cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are dull green above, grey-green below, turn a decorative yellow, red or orange colour in autumn.
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Flowers
Flowering period V-VI, highly decorative, strongly scented, white cymes. Flower-heads up to 10cm wide.
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Fruits
Obovate-oblong black-blue stone fruit, up to 0.8cm long, bright red and particularly decorative when young.
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Bark
Pale grey bark, brown when young, grey-brown with lenticels when older. Branches are dark brown.
Poisonousness
It is mainly the bark that is toxic. There is no evidence that the leaves and fruit are toxic. Consumption of toxic parts of the plant may lead to gastrointestinal complaints with nausea, feeling of sickness and diarrhoea. Not normally associated with serious symptoms of poisoning.
Application
Open country, open fields, tip afforestation, screening, noise abatement, wind-break, parks, urban areas, roadside verges, car parks, backyards, rooftop gardens, private parks, gardens, front gardens, wintergardens
Native regions
Alpine region, Germany, Central and northern Europe, Southern Europe, Southeastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa
Location parameters
Light: sunny to semi-shady, temperature: warm to cool, soil: dry to fresh, stagnant moisture: to be avoided, soil structure: firm to airy, soil depth: shallow to deep, soil quality: medium to high pH value: 5.5 to 8.0
Demands
Sun to light shade; tolerates heat, frost-hardy; dry to fresh; does not tolerate wet conditions; in all alkaline substances, very undemanding and adaptable; resistant to urban climates, tolerates a little salt, wind-resistant.
Growth
Height of growth: 1.5m to 3m, spread: 3m, rapid growth potential, growth habits: arcuate, loose, bushy, upright, overhanging
Leaves
Ovate, stalked leaves, 8-14cm long, 5-8cm wide, leaf stem 1.0-2.0cm long. Serrated edge. Leaves are dull green above, grey-green below, turn a decorative yellow, red or orange colour in autumn.
Flowers
Flowering period V-VI, highly decorative, strongly scented, white cymes. Flower-heads up to 10cm wide.
Fruits
Obovate-oblong black-blue stone fruit, up to 0.8cm long, bright red and particularly decorative when young.
Bark
Pale grey bark, brown when young, grey-brown with lenticels when older. Branches are dark brown.
Roots
Surface-rooting, suckering; forms a dense and intensive network of root branches.