Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist loams, but tolerates a wide range of soils. Mature plants generally have some good drought tolerance. Prune as needed immediately after flowering, however pruning off spent flowers will eliminate summer fruit display, which admittedly is not overly showy for this hybrid.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum × juddii, commonly called Judd viburnum, is a semi-snowball hybrid propagated by William H. Judd who introduced it at the Arnold Arboretum in 1920. It is a cross between V. carlesii x V. bitchiuense. A rounded deciduous shrub, it typically matures to 6-8’ tall and 6-10’ wide. It is noted for its fragrant white flowers in spring, quality dark green foliage, black fruit in fall and purple fall color. Sweetly fragrant white flowers in hemispherical clusters (cymes to 3.5” wide) bloom in spring. Ovate to ovate-oblong or elliptic, dark green leaves (to 2.5” long) turn burgundy purple to red in fall. Flowers are followed by berry-like drupes which ripen from red to black from late summer to early fall. Judd viburnum is similar to V. carlesii, but generally is considered to be somewhat denser, more spreading and more floriferous with shorter leaves.
Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.
Specific epithet honors William H. Judd.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Good resistance to bacterial leaf spots and powdery mildew.
Uses
Specimen or groups. Shrub borders, foundations, hedges or screens.