Description
Guelder Rose Hedge Plants – Viburnum opulus
- Guelder Rose Hedging plants – Viburnum opulus are very popular flowering hedging plant included in native hedgerows
- They are planted in native hedges, usually mixed with Whitethorn Hedging, Hazel, Holly and Spindle.
- They are a deciduous plant with a shiny reddish brown bark.
- Leaves are broad and lobed in structure and fade to orange or deep crimson in Autumn before dropping off.
- They produce white lace caped shaped flowers in late Spring and early Summer.
- These flowers are a great source of nectar for pollinating bees.
- After pollination by insects, these flowers will develop into clusters of translucent red berries in Autumn.
- These berries are often a very valuable food source for birds and other small mammals.
- The leaves are important for wildlife also, as insects and moths lay their eggs on the leaves.
- They are moderately fast growing, they can grow between 2-3ft a year.
- They will grow will in full sun or partial shade in a moist well drained soil.
- They are hardy in cold weather and require very little pruning
Benefits of Guelder Rose Hedge plants – Viburnum opulus to Biodiversity & Ecosystems
Planting Guelder Rose and native hedging species is a fantastic way of helping the environment and encouraging biodiversity in your garden. Viburnum opulus can provide food and shelter for so many life forms, from birds and mammals, through to lots of different species of insects throughout the entire year. Spring & Summer flowering of the white lacy cap flowers is a vital food source for pollinators, and the resulting translucent red berries, a valuable food source for birds and mammals. The leaves are used by moths and insects as the ideal location to lay their eggs. When planted mixed into a native hedge they make an attractive aesthetic in the rural surroundings all year round.
How & When to Plant your Guelder Rose Hedge Plants – Viburnum opulus
- Guelder Rose is usually planted as bare root plants from November through to March.
- If planting into a native mixed hedge, plants can be planted 3 or 4 plants per metre in a single or at a frequency of 5 plants per metre in a staggered double row.
- Pants are usually 2-3ft in height. Once planted, and if the area will be maintained clean and free from weeds, the plants can be pruned down to 12 inches in height. This will encourage bushiness in the plants. The area must be kept clean and free from weeds though, as weeds will be competition for the nutrients in the ground. Once growth in the Spring comes, the plant will begin growing and produce a thick, bushy hedge.
- You can learn how to choose between bare root or potted plants in our Resources section or by clicking Here.
- We grow Viburnum opulus here in our native Nursery.
- When planting bare root plants, it is best to break up the soil really well and loose.
- Dig the hole and place the tree with the roots exposed in the hole.
- Be careful not to damage the Roots.
- Place the tree in the hole up to the collar of the tree.
- Shovel back in the loosed soil and firm the plant in place by walking in the plant.
- A good guide to follow is to have the soil loose enough for the water to get in, but not loose enough for the air to get in.
- To view a video of how to plant a bare root plant, Click here
After care for your Plant.
If planted mixed into a native hedge along with Whitethorn, Spindle, Hazel and even Crab Apple, the area around the plants should be kept clean and free from weeds until the hedge establishes.
Type: Fast Growing
Soil: Any well drained soil.
Status: Hardy in cold weather.
Position: Full sun
Flowering: White flowers in spring, berries in Autumn.
