![]() The compact American cranberry bush is great for wildlife and low, informal hedges. Done well, this kind of planting can serve all the same functions as an old-fashioned single-species hedge, while adding a whole new dimension to the garden. These days, the old definition of “hedge” has become more inclusive, as gardeners interested in beauty and biodiversity are discovering the art of combining several shrub varieties into a mixed hedge. Tidiness and uniformity are a must and pruning is a constant.īut, there is no law that decrees that hedges should be monocultures of just one type of shrub. Say “hedges” to most people and they will think of an unbroken line of shrubs-most often evergreens-that hide a foundation, define a boundary, or separate lawn and garden areas. Viburnum Coppertop was developed by PJ Klinger of Brantley Nursery, and offered for sale by Kip McConnell of Southern Living Plants in the United States.Arrowwood is a good flowering shrub that tolerates shearing and hard pruning. Plant of the Month is sponsored by Plantipp, a company based in The Netherlands who handle the introduction of new plants into Europe (with Concept Plants doing the same job in North America). Viburnum Coppertop will soon be available in UK garden centres and by mail order. Light trims and shaping is all it needs, and any haircut will encourage sparkly new red foliage anyway! Its impossible to get the pruning wrong too. It can also be grown in containers of soil-based potting mix, perhaps underplanted with spring bulbs. It’s an incredibly malleable plant, and can be trained as a hedge, shaped into a column, or simply allowed to plug a gap in an established border!Īll this wonderful shrubs needs is a good, well-drained soil and a position in sun or shade, i.e. A spring garden or patio will be enhanced by the confetti blooms of Coppertop, and the interest will continue way beyond those spring months, too. And, yes it has the very best, sweet fragrance. The vibrant reddish new growth of Viburnum Coppertop is its defining factor, and WHEN you trim, it just keeps on coming! Of course, the botanical buffs amongst you will know the name ‘odoratissimum’ means odour, i.e. This was a new, durable shrub that anyone could grow. Like a beacon, the vibrant bronze tips of the shoots stood out from all the others, and it had a smaller leaf and more compact habit to boot!Īll of these attributes made Coppertop significantly different from other Viburnum odoratissimum in the market, and also placed it firmly into the landscape and retail market. And, the plant that went on to be known as Coppertop was no exception. When you grow so many of a plant, you get to know it well, and you can spot differences and changes a mile off. Viburnum odoratissimum is a widely used plant in commercial and residential landscapes around the USA and especially Florida, so it was a plant PJ had been working with previously. Plant Developer, Kip McConnell, is always on the lookout for new, different and unusual plants and travels the breadth of America to find them! On one of his plant hunting trips, he called in at PJ Klinger in Florida, where the third generation still owns and operates Brantley Nursery. Let’s be honest, it’s rather a Plain Jane plant with that generic ‘green shrub’ look- yet the new Coppertop looks set to change its fortunes! It is Viburnum odoratissimum, an oft-forgotten species. It also isn’t the type of Viburnum you’d see every day in plantings. Now, there’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders of this new plant, so it has undertaken years of rigorous testing. Viburnum Coppertop is tipped to be the next big landscaping shrub it will be as synonymous in your neighbourhood as lampposts and tarmac. Well, it just so turns out that the old garden favourite Photinia ‘Red Robin’ has some hot competition from an unexpected candidate… Just look at some of the great rivalries of all time: Frazier vs Ali, Jobs vs Gates, Dannii vs Kylie. It can inspire us and push us to do better. A competitive environment makes us work harder. ![]()
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