This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Vibirum Kilimanjano
A couple of years ago ,may be more, I bought a Viburnum Kilimanjano when it arrived the growing tip had been broken off. I should have complained at the time but I didn't. At the top of the main trunk a side branch is very whippy, if I fastened this branch vertical would it eventually take the place of the growing tip? WI'll the tree,shrub ever look as it should.
0
Posts
In my case, it was deer that chewed off the bud at the growing tip. Since then, one of the side branches has very slowly begun to bend into a vertical growing position to become the main shoot (the 'leader').
It is not uncommon with trees - and some shrubs, I suppose - for a side shoot to do this in order to replace a damaged leader shoot. In this way, the bud at the tip of the side shoot then gains what is called 'apical dominance' to replace the one that has been damaged/eaten.
In other words, I think the natural order of things will be restored over time if you wait a while longer. You probably wont need to do anything like forcing a branch to grow vertically, it may just take a few years to correct itself.
For the record, the loss of the main leader has temporarily (I hope) ruined the form of my Kilimanjaro. I suspect it will be a a few more years now before it begins to form the pyramid shape that the variety is known for.