Viburnum × burkwoodii 'CONOY' Burkwood viburnum, arrowwood
Viburnum
The genus Viburnum comprises approximately 150 species distributed across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, from East Asia through the Caucasus and Europe to North and South America. Botanically, it is an exceptionally diverse group, including both deciduous and evergreen shrubs, species with strongly fragrant flowers as well as those with little or no scent, and species cultivated primarily for their ornamental fruit. One of the most important garden hybrids within this genus is the Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum × burkwoodii), which originated in England in the 1920s from a cross between Viburnum carlesii and Viburnum utile. The hybrid was bred by Arthur Burkwood and quickly gained popularity for its combination of strongly scented flowers, more compact growth and good frost hardiness. Viburnum × burkwoodii subsequently became an important starting point for further breeding and laid the foundation for an entire group of modern hybrid viburnums intended for gardens in temperate climates.
As the popularity of viburnums increased, so did the need for more compact plants. Many botanical species proved too large for smaller gardens, which led to targeted breeding. This made it possible to combine a manageable size with frost hardiness, fragrance, long-term stability and good overall health. One of the most important breeders of viburnums was Donald Egolf (1928–1990), a research horticulturist at the U.S. National Arboretum, who successfully linked systematic botany with practical plant breeding. His work was based on his own research into viburnums, which already in the 1960s clarified which species could be meaningfully crossed and how desirable traits were inherited. His breeding programme produced cultivars such as ‘Mohawk’, ‘Cayuga’, ‘Onondaga’, ‘Conoy’ and ‘Eskimo’, all selected for compact growth, reliable flowering and suitability for gardens in temperate climates. Egolf’s contribution, however, extended well beyond viburnums. As the international registrar of the genus and the author of fundamental systematic studies, he played a major role in broader botanical research, and his work still forms the professional foundation of modern breeding not only of viburnums but also of other ornamental woody plants. A notable example is his frost-hardy hybrid crape myrtles, which became the basis of modern cultivation of this genus in cooler regions and are known in the literature as Lagerstroemia × egolfii.
Conoy is a highly attractive, evergreen variety of Burkwood viburnum with abundant spring flowering and compact growth. In early spring, depending on the course of the weather, usually from the second half of April, it produces spherical flower heads 6–8 cm in diameter, composed of small, pure white flowers with a delicate salmon-pink stigma at the centre. The flowers open from perfectly rounded, pink-tinged buds and are strongly fragrant. A distinctive feature is the change in the shape of the inflorescences: in bud they are almost flat, becoming fully rounded into the characteristic “snowball” form only at full bloom. After flowering, small, inedible fruits are formed, initially red and ripening to black within 6–8 weeks.
The leaves are evergreen, leathery, narrowly ovate to oblong-oval, 8–10 cm long, distinctly glossy and slightly undulate. They are dark green on the upper surface, with a finely felted, greyish-beige underside. Under local conditions they are more reliably evergreen than those of the parent species; older leaves often develop rich scarlet-red and deep orange tones in autumn, especially in sunny positions.
The cultivar was bred by Donald Egolf at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., as a complex hybrid of Viburnum × burkwoodii ‘Park Farm Hybrid’ and Viburnum utile, and was introduced into cultivation in 1988. The aim of the breeding programme was to obtain an evergreen viburnum combining abundant and reliable flowering with compact growth and improved adaptation to temperate climates. Its long-term garden value and reliability were recognised in 1992 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (est. 1827), one of the oldest and most respected horticultural institutions in North America, through the award of its Gold Medal Plant Award. ‘Conoy’ grows densely and naturally forms attractive, rounded shrubs that are slightly flattened at the top, reaching about 1.5 m in height and up to 2 m in width. Even without pruning it maintains good branching and a regular shape. The cultivar performs well in both rural gardens and urban plantings, where it provides a refined appearance throughout the year and a strong fragrant accent in spring.
Burkwood viburnums and related hybrid viburnums are undemanding shrubs suitable for most gardens in temperate regions. They perform best in full sun to partial shade, in humus-rich, moderately moist but well-drained soil. They tolerate a wide range of ordinary garden soils, except for extremes, particularly sites that are persistently dry or permanently waterlogged. After planting, regular watering is required, but once established they are tolerant of short periods of drought. Pruning is not essential; if shaping or rejuvenation is required, it should always be carried out immediately after flowering, as the plants flower on the previous year’s wood. Feeding is not necessary, but may support vigour and flowering, most commonly in spring using compost or a balanced fertiliser for ornamental shrubs. Frost hardiness is high, and in proven cultivars reaches approximately −29 °C (USDA zone 5), possibly a bit more.
Last update 26-12-2018; 15-03-2026
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