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Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum

Viburnum carlesii 'SMVCB'

  • Compact Spice Baby™ Viburnum Blooms Earlier and Smaller than Standard Varieties for Tight Spaces
  • Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-8
  • Grows 4-5 ft Tall and Wide
  • Showy White Blooms From Early Spring to Late Spring
  • Great Choice for Hedge or Foundation Planting
Regular price $2614
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Aim for at least six hours of direct sun to ensure the most fragrant flower production and the brightest red fall color. While it handles partial shade well, you will see fewer blooms and a more open, leggy growth habit if it stays in the dark too long.
  • Soil: This viburnum prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. If you are dealing with heavy clay, mix in some compost or aged wood chips at planting time to improve drainage and prevent the roots from sitting in stagnant water.

Watering Requirements

During the first two years, water your Spice Baby Viburnum deeply twice a week to help its roots settle into the native soil. Once it is mature and established, it can handle occasional dry spells, but inconsistent moisture often leads to leaf scorch or smaller flower buds. Providing a steady supply of water during the heat of summer ensures the plant has enough energy to set next year's fragrant blooms.

Pruning Tips

This shrub blooms on old wood, which means it develops its flower buds during the summer for the following spring. You should only prune or shape the plant immediately after the flowers finish in late spring to avoid cutting off next year's display. Use this time to thin out the oldest branches or remove any crossing limbs to improve airflow and keep the plant looking tidy.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring just as the new growth begins to appear. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers after mid-summer because this can trigger a flush of soft new growth that will be easily damaged by early winter frosts. A single spring application provides enough fuel for the plant to grow strong stems and healthy foliage throughout the season.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com

Description

Take a stroll around your block this evening as the sun is setting. If you're lucky you'll smell a spicy sweet scent wafting on the evening breeze. What is that wonderful smell? It's not a Rose or a Lilac or Jasmine! Can't put your finger on it? Let us help you. It's Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii 'SMVCB'). This Proven Winner® selection is a medium shrub, but it is covered in perfect snowball-sized spheres of blush-pink blooms that are reminiscent of clusters of apple blossoms if they were Hydrangea mopheads.

These are sized just right to go in any garden and are especially useful as foundation plantings. These beauties are deer resistant, should you live somewhere where that is a necessity. But even though deer dislike them, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators find Spice Baby™ completely irresistible! You will have a vibrant display of flying friends for weeks. This Viburnum also has an upright, open-branching nature, so it looks great in winter, too!

Also spelled Koreanspice, this Proven Winner® selection has been field tested for beauty, strength, and stamina so you can be sure that Spice Baby will perform exceptionally well in your sunny garden. If you have more than one you will even get berries in the fall to add to the show. Add another cultivar like Korean Spice as a cross-pollination partner. Your local songbirds will appreciate having the red berries that turn nearly black in autumn, backed by red and burgundy fall color. You'll like adding a bit of extra interest to this exceptional, ornamental shrub.

Planting and Application:

To make your neighbors really jealous, use several as a fragrant, flowering springtime hedge. These compact shrubs can make handsome foundation plantings and are best planted around seating areas and for welcoming guests as they come to your front door with the fragrance! They are just the right size to use as a low privacy screen along the back of your patio seating area. Heavenly!

Include a few as specimens in your mixed shrub borders or repeat them across the back of your perennial beds as a dramatic backdrop. You'll want to cut some of the sweet pink flower buds for cut flower arrangements. Enjoy watching them open in the vase. Even the fall fruit looks great in bouquets! Spice Baby™ is a fantastic backdrop to your perennial garden or in a mixed shorter shrub border - plus this will double as bird habitat and shelter!

Use a hedge of them in full sun or part shade to screen out short, ugly views like the neighbor's garbage cans or to hide your air conditioning unit. Plant several 2 ½-3 feet apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next. You'll create a small, fragrant hedge with a nice, rounded form. Use it throughout all of your landscape plantings to weave a common thread of light pink and white flowers, great summer foliage, and outstanding fall color.

  • Incredibly Fragrant Waxy Red Buds Open to Light Pink Fragrant Spring Blooms
  • Beautiful Leathery Leaves are Small and Fine-Textured
  • Lovely Branch Structure & Smaller Space-Saving Size
  • Gorgeous Wine-Red & Purple Fall Color
  • Butterfly Magnet & Hummingbirds & Bee-Friendly
  • Easy to Grow Tough Privacy Screen

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Spice Baby™ Viburnum will adapt to almost any soil type, as long as it drains after a rain event. It's easily grown in average, well-drained soil. Give young plants a moderate amount of moisture on a regular basis to establish them in your landscape. After the first seasons, they can tolerate short periods of drought. However, it is best to keep your Viburnum healthy and stress-free by adding water when needed to the soil. Juglone from Walnut trees doesn't affect these hardy shrubs as badly as others!

Wait to Prune until after those amazing flowers are finished in spring. It's rare to need to tip prune, but you can shorten up the ends of branches right after flowering if you'd like. You can also remove the largest, thickest stems from the ground every few years. This will rejuvenate your shrub. Leave the young stems in place, which will flower nicely for you next spring.

  • Full Sun & Partial Shade
  • Adaptable to Most Well-Drained Soil Types
  • Provide Mulched Beds & Moderate, Regular Moisture
  • Prune After Flowering To Deadhead & Shape
  • Deer Don't Prefer The Taste & Juglone Resistant
  • Exceptionally Cold Hardy & Adaptable
  • Easy-Care & Low Maintenance

Fragrance, four-season interest and wildlife benefits, the Spice Baby™ Koreanspice Viburnum has everything you need to decorate your outdoor world! Don't wait until next year to add these classic ornamental garden plants to your landscape. Order yours today at NatureHills.com!

Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum suitable for?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. This cold-hardy shrub handles winter temperatures down to -30°F while still producing fragrant spring blooms. Plant in full sun to partial shade for best flowering performance.

Does Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum have a strong fragrance, and when does it bloom?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum produces an intensely fragrant, spicy-sweet scent from its blush-pink spring blooms that can be detected from blocks away. The snowball-shaped flower clusters appear in spring and attract butterflies and hummingbirds for weeks. Plant near seating areas or walkways to fully enjoy the heavenly fragrance, available at naturehills.com.

What are the sun exposure requirements for Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum (full sun or partial shade)?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum thrives in full sun conditions for optimal flowering and fragrance. This Proven Winner® selection has been field tested specifically for sunny garden performance. Plant in a location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best blooms.

What type of soil does Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum prefer, and does it tolerate clay or alkaline soil?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum adapts well to most soil types, including clay and slightly alkaline conditions. This hardy shrub tolerates a wide pH range but performs best in well-draining soil. Amend heavy clay with compost for optimal growth and flowering.

How often should I water Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum, especially when newly planted?

  • Water newly planted Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum deeply 2-3 times per week for the first month. Once established, this drought-tolerant shrub needs watering only during dry spells. Check soil moisture by inserting your finger 2 inches deep - water when dry.

Is Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum deer resistant or tolerant of deer browsing?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum is deer resistant, making it an excellent choice for gardens where deer browsing is problematic. While deer avoid this fragrant shrub, it attracts beneficial pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant it near seating areas or as foundation plantings where you can enjoy both the spring fragrance and natural deer protection.

Does Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum require fertilizer, and what kind?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum typically doesn't require regular fertilization once established. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring can boost bloom production and overall vigor. Apply around the drip line and water in well.

What shipping restrictions apply to Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum (e.g., states like AK or HI)?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum ships to most continental US states during appropriate planting seasons. Some states like Alaska and Hawaii may have restrictions due to agricultural regulations and shipping logistics. Check your state's specific shipping availability at checkout for the most current restrictions.

What is the plant size or condition upon arrival when ordering Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum online?

  • Spice Baby™ Korean Spice Viburnum typically arrives as a well-rooted nursery plant ready for immediate planting. The exact size depends on your selected option during checkout. Plant in spring or fall for best establishment, giving it full sun and well-draining soil.

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