Looking for a plant to put in a hot spot in the landscape where other plants wither and fade? Or maybe something to replace the tired old juniper that gets a little too much shade? Whatever the case, there is most likely a viburnum that will be a happy and healthy replacement for the plant or site that ails your landscape.

There are at least 200 varieties of viburnums to choose from with a wide range of sizes, shapes and tolerance for sun/shade and soil conditions. They have few pest problems in the Midwest and generally have a medium to fast growth rate. Most viburnum species have white or pink flowers in the spring followed by small fruit that adds interest in the winter. Many species also have an attractive fall color, and a few are evergreen.

When shopping for a viburnum, be sure to read labels because of the wide variability in size. Also, if your favorite garden center only has larger or smaller viburnums that you need, be sure to ask about others and/or shop around. There are so many viburnums available that many garden centers will stick with their favorites, which can vary from place to place.

A few of the most popular viburnum varieties are:

• Korean spice (V. carlesii): grows to 5 to 6 feet tall by the same width, with brilliantly fragrant light-pink flowers in spring. This species blooms best in full sun but grows well even with several hours of shade. The plant’s coarse, fuzzy leaves add texture and an attractive deep green to the landscape throughout the summer and fall.

• Dwarf American cranberry bush (V. trilobum ‘Bailey Compact’): grows to 3 to 6 feet tall by the same width, a dwarf version of the 20-foot-tall American cranberry bush viburnum. Like Korean spice, dwarf cranberry bush performs well in sun or part shade and adds texture to the landscape. It produces white flowers in spring and bright-red cranberry-like fruit that make the shrub particularly pretty in winter. Compact European cranberry bush (V. opulus ‘Compactum’) and Dwarf European cranberry bush (V. opulus ‘Nanum’) are similar, although the dwarf European variety rarely produces flowers or fruit.

• Emerald Triumph (V. ‘Emerald Triumph’): grows to 6 to 8 feet tall by the same width. Emerald Triumph is named for its glossy green leaves. The shrub also produces large, white flowers in spring, with small berry-like fruit that add interest in summer and fall. Leaves turn bronze to dark red in fall.

• Alleghany, Leatherleaf, Mohawk, and Pragense (V. x rhytidophylloides ‘Alleghany’, V. rhytidophyllum, V. x burkwoodii ‘Mohawk’, V. x pragense): grow to 8 to 12 feet tall with varying widths, depending on individual varieties. Because of their size, these viburnums make great living fences or screens. Leatherleaf and Pragense are evergreen and leatherleaf is especially tolerant of heavy shade. All have white flowers in spring.

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show” and has been a gardener since childhood. Send your gardening questions and feedback to features@ljworld.com.