Marianne's Response

How to pollinate Shasta viburnum for more berries

I have an 8-year-old Viburnum plicatum tomentosum “Shasta” that is beautiful and flowers well, but produces few berries. I am reading Michael Dirr’s book on Viburnums, and he suggests the problem is pollination, or “viburnums’s trend toward self-sterility,” and “for the best fruit set, another seedling or clone of the same or closely related species should be in proximity.” Would you please clarify? I plan on adding either another Shasta, or an informal grouping of 3 Shoshoni in the fall. Would either work to pollinate the Shasta? Also, how close should they be planted together? Thank you for the advice.

Posted by oaktree on July 29, 2014

Marianne's Response

I do love the Shasta viburnum, as this great evergreen offers four seasons of interest. For more berries, adding another viburnum would help with fruit set. It won't matter if it is the exact same variety, as long as they flower at about the same time and are all Viburnum plicatums. Plant them within 12 feet of one another for best pollination. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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