Mohawk Burkwood Viburnum

Meet the bold and beautiful Mohawk Burkwood Viburnum (Viburnum × burkwoodii 'Mohawk'), a standout shrub prized for its powerful fragrance, brilliant seasonal color, and pest-resistant foliage. A mid-spring bloomer, this hybrid Viburnum dazzles with pink buds that open into clusters of spicy, clove-scented white flowers.

The layered, symmetrical structure of this shrub makes it as handsome bare-branched as it is in full bloom. Compact and upright in habit, Mohawk is a dwarf cultivar, ideal for smaller gardens or tighter spaces without sacrificing show-stopping beauty. It's also semi-evergreen in milder zones and reblooms modestly in early fall. After flowering, it produces small red fruits that ripen to black, loved by birds but rarely messy.

Rounded and well-branched, Mohawk matures around 6-8 feet tall and 5-7 feet wide, forming a tidy ball of glossy dark green, leathery leaves. The foliage turns a vivid reddish-orange in fall, adding a fiery punctuation to the season's end.

Key Features

• Incredibly fragrant white blooms from pink buds in mid-spring
• Compact size, great for borders and small gardens
• Glossy dark green foliage with fiery red-orange fall color
• Semi-evergreen in warmer zones
• Disease-resistant and cold-hardy (Zones 5–8)
• Red-to-black berries feed birds without mess
• Rebloom potential in early fall

Landscaping Uses

Use Mohawk Viburnum as a mid-sized shrub with an elegant form and bold seasonal interest! The name 'Burkwood' pays homage to the 19th-century Burkwood brothers, famous British hybridizers. Culturally, Viburnums symbolize harmony, and this cultivar surely lives up to that.

• Specimen shrub near patios or windows for fragrance
• Massed in mixed borders and cottage gardens for fall foliage and structure
• Foundation planting or corner accent
• Informal fragrant hedging or privacy screen
• Large containers in formal or cottage-style gardens
• Scent carries on the wind, plant near walkways
• Perfume meditation gardens or sensory gardens
• Wildlife gardens for pollinators and birds

Care and Maintenance

This Viburnum is a deciduous shrub with leathery leaves that sometimes persist through winter in mild climates. It's sun-loving, cold-tolerant, and tolerant of clay or urban conditions.

Native to hybrid parentage between Burkwood Viburnum (V. burkwoodii) and Service Viburnum (V. utile), this cross brings out the best of both worlds: extreme cold hardiness (Zones 5–8), disease resistance, and floral power. It thrives in full sun to part shade, is drought-tolerant once established, and shrugs off pollution and tough urban conditions. It's perfect for Ma Nature's temperamental mood swings!

• Planting Time: Early spring or fall
• Sun Needs: Full sun to part shade (best flowering in full sun)
• Soil Needs: Well-drained soil; tolerates clay, loam, and sandy soils
• Moisture Needs: Moderate water; drought tolerant once established
• Mulch: A 3–4 inch deep layer of bark mulch is ideal; compost improves vigor
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in early spring with balanced fertilizer
• Pruning Info: Prune just after flowering; Viburnum blooms on old wood
• Renewal Pruning: Every few years, remove the oldest stems from the base
• Special Needs/Perks/Growing Tips and Tricks For Success:
• Deer and rabbit-resistant
• Pest and disease-resistant
• Cold hardy to -30°F
• Handles urban air and pollution
• Pollination Needs: Self-fruitful; but berry production improves with other Viburnums nearby

Let the Scent Sweep You Off Your Feet

With its spicy clove-scented blooms and brilliant fall foliage, Mohawk Viburnum earns its place as both a visual and fragrant standout in any garden. Compact yet mighty, it blends the grace of classic garden shrubs with modern durability and low-maintenance charm. Perfect for fragrance lovers and wildlife watchers alike.

Order now at Nature Hills Nursery and we'll deliver straight to your garden gate at the perfect planting time for your region.