Viburnum opulus Pechcin - Guelder Rose

Viburnum opulus Pechcin is a particularly ornamental Guelder Rose due to its unique foliage. This variety is covered with beautiful cut leaves, a beautiful green with yellow variegation. In spring, a slightly greenish white flowering brightens up the foliage. In autumn, decorative red berries appear. With a medium growth, this deciduous bush has an irregular habit and reaches a height of 2m within 10 years. It is extremely hardy and grows in full sun or partial shade, in fertile, moist soil.

The Guelder Rose, sometimes called Snowball Tree, European Cranberrybush, or European Highbush Cranberry depending on the region, is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and North Africa. It now belongs to the Adoxaceae family, like Elderberry. Viburnum opulus comes in a few varieties, including the classic 'Roseum' Snowball Tree (Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'), which is now somewhat outdated. Pęchcin is a Polish selection that updates the genus, with its beautiful deciduous foliage. Easily identifiable with their characteristic shape, the leaves are divided into three main lobes, a larger central lobe and two smaller lateral lobes. The leaf is carried by a fairly long and flexible petiole, and its margin is irregularly toothed. Arranged in an opposite position, the leaves are remarkable for their colouring, a vivid green variegated with yellow in an irregular pattern. In some leaves, the yellow is subtle, while in others, it covers half or even the entire surface. This random variegation gives this variety its character, and the proportion of yellow intensifies as the season progresses.
This Guelder Rose blooms in May-June, like other cultivars, in the form of flattened corymbs measuring 6 to 8 cm in diameter; these corymbs are composed, as in hydrangeas, of a crown of sterile florets surrounding a central disk of fertile florets. This white, slightly greenish flowering is highly nectar-rich. The subsequent fruiting is decorative, in the form of hanging clusters filled with round, bright red berries measuring 1 cm in diameter, slightly translucent when ripe and loved by birds.
Growing a bit slower than the species with entirely green foliage, this shrub reaches a height of about 2m and a width of 1.50 to 1.80m after 10 years of planting. It will continue to grow up to approximately 3.50m.
Easy to grow in any ordinary soil, even limestone and clay, it appreciates rich soil and moisture. It thrives in full sun but also tolerates partial shade, especially in hot climates, which helps maintain a certain level of atmospheric humidity, as it is not a shrub for dry conditions. It is extremely hardy, can withstand temperatures as low as -30°C without any risk, and tolerates pruning well, allowing its size to be adjusted to the available space in a small garden.

Viburnum opulus Pęchcin is a novelty that will delight enthusiasts of variegated foliage, in a genus that has so far been rather traditional... You can associate it with other decorative foliage in a diverse flowerbed. A purple foliage like that of Physocarpus opulifolius Black Light will create a powerful colour contrast. The leaves of this small shrub, which are also trilobed, resemble those of the Viburnum, but its white flowering clearly identifies it as a Rosaceae. The same effect can be achieved by planting a Elderberry such as Sambucus nigra Black Lace next to it, this time from the same family but with a completely different foliage, extremely cut and very architectural. Beautiful combinations can also be found with Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) with large cut leaves that often turn red in autumn, and their abundant summer flowering. The Winged Euonymus, Euonymus alatus, will also be a good companion with its very natural appearance and flamboyant autumn colours.