Spice Viburnum Seeds

currently unavailable Fragrant Flowers - Black Raisin Fruit

This species selection of Viburnum was found along a fence row in southwestern Michigan where people dump their grass and prunings near a subdivision. Here the plant grew to 12 ft. tall and wide with massive clusters of fruits. Later identified as Carlesii viburnum, this was one of the best fruited ones I had ever seen. I collected the seeds and grew out many plants at my farm. In the light shade of oaks and chestnuts, the shrubs were very productive and produced a delicious but small fruit around a large seed. The large clusters of black fruit are produced on long branches from a central stem so each stem has lots of clusters of fruit. The fruit is sweet and raisin like but not much pulp. Sweet spicy fragrant flowers are produced in May. 

This plant has potential as both a bird food plant and possible an edible fruited viburnum if more was known on its culinary as well as its yield and improvement of fruit taste.  The dark black fruit has possibilities but it is not practical to grow volumes of it as the yields need to be improved dramatically.  For now the plants at my farm are voraciously consumed by many types of birds starting in late August. I think the turkeys have gotten into them a few times as they will strip the bushes!