Koreanspice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)

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Koreanspice Viburnum Plant Care

Viburnum carlesii Hemsl.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Viburnum carlesii, the arrowwood or Korean spice viburnum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Adoxaceae, native to Korea and Japan and naturalised in Ohio, US. Growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall and broad, it is a bushy deciduous shrub with oval leaves which are copper-coloured when young.

🌿Shrubs
Water

Every 7–10 days

Light

Full sun to part shade

Temp

0–100°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Koreanspice Viburnum?

Plant Koreanspice Viburnum in full sun to part shade and water a young tree every 7–10 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 0–100°F (-18–38°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Koreanspice Viburnum Native To?

Native range3 countries

What Is the Koreanspice Viburnum?

Koreanspice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) belongs to the Viburnaceae family within the Viburnum genus. Koreanspice Viburnum is native to Korea and Japan and naturalised in Ohio, US. Koreanspice Viburnum is also known as Fragrant Viburnum, Korean Viburnum.

Koreanspice Viburnum displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Koreanspice Viburnum produces clusters of small, fragrant white or pink flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Water a young or newly planted Koreanspice Viburnum every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–10 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Koreanspice Viburnum Need?

Koreanspice Viburnum thrives in full sun to part shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to part shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Koreanspice Viburnum Prefer?

Viburnum carlesii tolerates temperatures of 0–100°F. Koreanspice Viburnum prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

0–100°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Moist, well-draining loamy soil enriched with organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Koreanspice Viburnum to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Feed Koreanspice Viburnum every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Choose a spot with full sun to part shade and moist, well-draining loamy soil enriched with organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Koreanspice Viburnum can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Prune Koreanspice Viburnum while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

How Do You Care for a Koreanspice Viburnum in Winter?

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

How Do You Propagate a Koreanspice Viburnum?

Koreanspice Viburnum can be propagated through softwood cuttings, semi-hardwood cuttings, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to viburnum plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Koreanspice Viburnum Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Koreanspice Viburnum, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Koreanspice Viburnum?

Koreanspice Viburnum is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, viburnum beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Keep exploring plants

Koreanspice Viburnum is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Viburnum genus — compare its care with other Viburnum species on PlantoScan.

Viburnum is part of the Viburnaceae plant family — browse all Viburnaceae genera and species.

Koreanspice Viburnum thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

Related Plant Care Guides

Closely related plants with similar care requirements:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Viburnum carlesii Hemsl., family Viburnaceae (first published in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 350 (1888)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record, Wikidata.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Koreanspice Viburnum, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Photo: AI-generated illustration (labelled on the image).
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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