Sugar N' Spice™ Korean Spice Viburnum

Sugar N' Spice™ Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii 'Select S') is a delightfully fragrant flowering shrub that brings a burst of spicy-sweet perfume to your spring garden! This reblooming cultivar is a modern twist on the beloved Korean Spice Viburnum, known for its intoxicating clove-scented blooms.

Clusters of pink buds open to white, dome-shaped flower heads. After pollination, red berries mature to black, attracting birds while adding a seasonal accent. It flowers early to mid-spring and then surprises gardeners with a second flush of blooms in late summer—a rare trait among Viburnums. Sugar N' Spice™ is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® selection, chosen for its compact habit, prolific blooms, and reliability.

The form is naturally rounded, topping out around 4 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, making it ideal for smaller landscapes or tight garden spaces. Its dark green, ovate leaves emerge in spring and turn rich burgundy-red in fall.

Native to Korea, Viburnum carlesii has long been admired for its hardiness and spicy fragrance. Sugar N' Spice™ thrives in USDA Zones 4–8 and handles a wide range of climates, from humid Southeastern summers to chilly Northern winters.

Key Features

• Powerfully fragrant pink-to-white spring flowers
• Reblooming—flowers again in late summer
• Compact, rounded form (4–5 feet tall and wide)
• Burgundy-red fall foliage
• Bird-friendly berries
• Deer-resistant and low-maintenance
• Hardy in USDA Zones 4–8

Landscaping Uses

Its fragrance has deep cultural symbolism, often associated with renewal and the start of spring. This compact variety brings old-fashioned charm in a modern, easy-care package!

This dwarf deciduous shrub stays around 4-8 feet and has a round, mounded form, perfect for layering in garden beds or small hedges.

• Use in foundation plantings for spring fragrance
• Add to cottage gardens, meditation gardens, or sensory gardens
• Plant near patios, paths, or entryways for scent appreciation
• Excellent fragrant additions to mixed shrub borders, hedges, or privacy screens
• Works in large containers for patios or balconies
• Combine with early spring bulbs for a layered bloom

Care and Maintenance

Sugar N' Spice™ is a woody deciduous shrub that's both cold hardy and deer resistant, thriving in full sun to part shade. It’s easy to grow and rewards with fragrance, foliage, and form.

• Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall
• Sun Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Prefers well-drained soil; tolerates clay with added compost
• Moisture Needs: Medium moisture; drought-tolerant once established
• Mulch: Apply 3–4 inches of arborist mulch or bark chips annually to conserve moisture
• Fertilization Needs: Light feeding in spring with balanced fertilizer or compost
• Pruning Info: Prune right after spring bloom; flowers on old wood
• Renewal Pruning: Every 3–5 years, remove the oldest stems from the base
• Special Needs/Perks:
• Deer-resistant and rabbit-tolerant
• Low maintenance
• Urban and pollution-tolerant
• Pollination Needs: Self-fertile, but more berries form with another Viburnum carlesii nearby

A Spicy-Sweet Spring Favorite

You'll fall head over heels for the clove-scented blooms of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Sugar N' Spice™ Viburnum—an aromatic masterpiece in a compact package. Whether you're looking for a nostalgic nod to heirloom gardens or a fragrant showstopper near your front door, this plant delivers.

Buy now and Nature Hills Nursery will ship it at the proper planting time for your growing zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sugar N' Spice™ Viburnum evergreen?
No, it is a deciduous shrub, meaning it drops its leaves in fall.

Does Sugar N' Spice™ need a pollinator?
No, it is self-fertile, though cross-pollination with another Viburnum can increase berry production.

When does Sugar N' Spice™ Viburnum bloom?
It blooms heavily in early to mid-spring and again lightly in late summer.

Can I grow Sugar N' Spice™ in a container?
Yes, its compact size makes it suitable for large pots or patio containers.

Does it tolerate clay soil?
Yes, it tolerates clay if amended with compost to improve drainage.

Is this Viburnum fragrant?
Extremely! It has a strong, sweet, clove scent that perfumes the garden.