Grow Brandywine Viburnum for Tie-Dye Berry Clusters
Updated: Oct. 10, 2022
The easiest way to grow Brandywine viburnum with its clusters of pink and blue berries that both gardeners and wildlife love.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Why Should You Grow a Brandywine Viburnum Shrub?
Brandywine viburnum has all of the spring and summer appeal of traditional viburnum, with a colorful fall twist.
With purple-red leaves, viburnums already look fantastic in fall, but Brandywine takes color to a whole new level. Along with fiery autumn hues on its leaves—this viburnum cultivar is stealing the spotlight with its unmatched pink and blue tie-dye berry clusters.
Brandywine also shares many of the classic warm weather attributes that make viburnums so popular. It sports bundles of green foliage in the warmer months, along with bright white flower clusters in spring.
How to Grow Brandywine Viburnum
- Botanical name: Viburnum nudum ‘Bulk’
- Zone: 5 to 9
- Light needs: Full sun to part shade
- Size: 5 to 6 feet tall and wide
Brandywine viburnum is a low maintenance shrub once it is established. Ideally, it should be grown in a sunny spot with moist, well-draining soil. Just pick a space where it can reach its full size, as it does not transplant easily.
After planting, add a layer of mulch to keep the soil hydrated and apply a slow-release fertilizer every spring. Prune the shrub shortly after the blooms are spent.
Find out how to grow a native Fireside ninebark shrub.
Brandywine Viburnum Berries
One of Brandywine’s biggest benefits is that it’s self-pollinating. That means that a single plant will still produce some berries—you don’t need multiple male and female plants. This makes Brandywine more suitable for smaller yards or as a garden focal point. To get loads of berries, plant Brandywine with Winterthur viburnum.
It’s the white flowers that transform into the fruit, so be careful when pruning. Feel free to snip wayward branches, but don’t touch the flower clusters.
Attract more birds with a silky dogwood shrub.
Wildlife Benefits
Besides providing great cover for songbirds, Brandywine’s berries are also a special treat. This viburnum is one of the best trees or shrubs with berries for birds.
It’s also an early spring flowering shrub and the white bloom clusters are a great source of nectar for butterflies.
Next, learn how to grow a black chokeberry shrub.
Originally Published: October 10, 2022
