Trying to ID an early flowering shrub

Lena_vs_Deer · April 2022

Hello friends.
We have few flowering shrubs in front yard that I'd like your help with identifying.

It blooms really early ( right about now

in early April).
Scent is similar to lilac, but softer. Sort of as if it was mixed with vanilla ice cream.
Grows as a round dome with plenty of air between branches.
Unfortunately don't know if it had any berries. We are gradually clearing the shrubbery and until this year this plant was hidden under a very dense dead growth.

Something tells me it's one of those plants where everyone will be like "of course it's [name]" haha .

Thank you!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/q4/0wqdfol3ldk0.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/w1/buhwdix497ko.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/bn/omuanylyddqj.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/n2/4gosfi1q05fh.jpg

Hostafan1 · April 2022

It's a Viburnum.
Maybe V. burkwoodii

Fairygirl · April 2022

I agree. A Viburnum, although I don't know if it's burkwoodii. The foliage looks different from mine.

Silver surfer · April 2022

Agree Viburnum sp.
Viburnum carlesii is another possibility...but not positive.

Cambridgerose12 · April 2022

I think it’s a form of Viburnum carlesii, though which one I can’t tell. It’s not burkwoodii, which has shinier narrower leaves. The smell as you describe it sounds like carlesii too. There is a closely related form called Viburnum juddii, but I’ve never grown that so I’m not able to ID with confidence.

Silver surfer · April 2022

Pics below...

Viburnum carlesii ..aurora and Diane.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Viburnum carlesii&view_all=1

Viburnum burkwoodii.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Viburnum burkwoodii.&view_all=1

Viburnum juddii.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=viburnum juddii&view_all=1

Cambridgerose12 · April 2022

Thanks, @Silver surfer. From the pale, almost orange colour of the buds, it looks more like juddii to me, but it might be a species carlesii (rather than the named varieties). You’re lucky, @Lena_vs_Deer, these are wonderful shrubs to have.

Lena_vs_Deer · April 2022

Thank you everyone!!!

Great to know what this is so we can take appropriate care of them and maybe get few more to replicate in other corners of our property!

It’s funny, we seriously smelled them first before we even realized they were under all that dead growth haha XD

Feeling really fortunate

they’re huge and smell like heaven!

Thank you again everyone for helping to identify these!

Lena_vs_Deer · April 2022

Given viburnum as a start for search I looked into native varieties for our area and it does seem exactly like carlesii variety!

GardenerSuze · April 2022

@Lena-vs-Deer There are some wonderful Viburnums but not all are scented. Some are evergreen and leaf shape can vary, in fact some are grown for their leaves. My favourite is V bodnantense Charles Lamont. Flowers here is the winter months.

Silver surfer · April 2022

Viburnum species is a large group of very useful, very underrated shrubs
Some have fab flowers on bare twigs before the leaves appear.
eg
Viburnum bodnantense Charles Lamont
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Viburnum bodnantense Charles Lamont&view_all=1
..........................................................................

I love the ones that have flowers followed by glorious, wonderful berries.
eg .
Viburnum opulus.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=viburnum opulus&view_all=1

Viburnum sargentii.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=viburnum sargentii&view_all=1

Viburnum setigerum.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=viburnum setigerum&view_all=1
...................................................................................

Others are very useful as they are evergreen.
eg
Viburnum davidii.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=Viburnum davidii.&view_all=1
................................................................

Others have beautiful flowers as mentioned earlier..Viburnum carlesii, Viburnum burkwoodii, and Viburnum juddii.

Trying to ID an early flowering shrub

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