Susan Harris's blog about eco-friendly and urban gardening, plus the adventures of a DC-based garden writer, coach and occasional rabble-rowser.

For “Bloom Day,” the Bird Feast that is the Doublefile Viburnum

July 15, 2009 · 11 comments

With apologies for (once again) stretching the meaning of "bloom" to include color, period. Over on GardenRant I follow the rules (pretty much).

Sure, everyone notices these large, gorgeous shrubs when they’re in bloom. And just as importantly, they fill up the garden, and all the shorter plants look great in front of them. This is the kind of big plant that really makes a garden, but is rarely planted by new gardeners.

And now in mid-July they’re something else – covered in red berries being scarfed down by a flock of birds for hours every morning. Anybody have a guess as to what the birds may be? (I’ll keep trying to get a photo of them but can’t promise.) I’m a terrible bird-describer but they seem cardinal size and a mixture of colors.

So for its large and important contribution to the full, lush beauty of the garden, its virtually no-maintenance nature, and its service to my beloved birds, this Asian import deserves a spot in my garden.

{ 11 comments }

1 Marjorie July 15, 2009 at 6:58 am: Susan, I completely agree with you about the fruit on the Doublefile Viburnum.
Many birds love the fruit that most Viburnums produce, a favorite in my yard is the Cranberry Bush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum)
I am going to take a guess that your birds are Cedar Waxwings, they love berries, are shaped like cardnials with different colors and they tend to eat in flocks. Goggle them under images for a look.
2 Debbie July 15, 2009 at 7:11 am: Susan,

Great minds must think alike! I also included my doublefile berries in my Bloom Day post…I find the berries are just as colorful and interesting as any flower. My doublefiles are probably my favorite shrubs in my garden; when they are blooming there is nothing quite like them and even when they are resting, the outstrecthed branches still are inviting. The berries are like the icing on the cake!
3 susan harris July 15, 2009 at 9:29 am: I sent this post to my super-birder next-door neighbor, who responded via email:

My guess is Cedar Waxwings. They always forage in flocks, and primarily eat berries.
Listen for very high-pitched zeeeee zeeeee zeeeee trills. These calls
are easy to overlook, but once you hear them it is very distinctive. For photos, check out:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id

After looking at the photos, you would think that these birds would
stick out like a sore thumb. In practice, they blend into foliage remarkably well. They really are as pretty as the photos, but
you need binoculars to get a good look.
4 Carole July 15, 2009 at 10:00 am: Thanks for including “color” as blooms. Too often we overlook our fruiting and berrying shrubs. Cedar waxwings are amazing. They’ll swoop in in big flocks and can wipe out all the berries in just one day. I love watching them, they are so beautiful.
5 healingmagichands July 15, 2009 at 12:36 pm: I’ll make it unanimous. I’m sure they are cedar waxwings. Around here we call them the “Party Birds” because when there are berries they have a big party eating them. “Party, party, party!” they seem to sing as they greedily munch away.

I planted several viburnums in my new stroll garden and I’m eagerly awaiting their maturity.

So glad I stopped by to see your lovely place.
6 Susie July 15, 2009 at 2:06 pm: Oh how I’d love to have a Doublefire Viburnum! So pretty & the yearround interest is fantastic! Too much water here in CA or I’d plant one this minute!
7 Kathleen July 15, 2009 at 5:33 pm: I have two beautiful doublefiles. I think I need to move them to an area with more space. Any suggestions on transplanting?
8 susan harris July 15, 2009 at 5:38 pm: Kathleen, I’d certainly wait til it cools down, but go for it. My neighbors moved a HUGE, old doublefile and it survived the move with no problem.
9 Mr. McGregor's Daughter July 16, 2009 at 12:28 pm: This is another shrub that seems to be shown only in one season, in this case in bloom. I had no idea it had such gorgeous fruit. They are such graceful shrubs and don’t seem to have a “down” season.
10 ~~Rhonda July 16, 2009 at 3:09 pm: A beautiful shrub! I’ve added it to my growing want list. Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures. And yes, I agree, must be Cedar Waxwings. They love foraging on berries. We have a viburnum with small dark berries and they are all over it in late winter. ~~Rhonda
11 Sylvana July 21, 2009 at 9:41 am: Beautiful! I wish I had the space, but I’m eying up fruit trees and shrubs. I didn’t see a picture of the birds, but I was going to guess Cedar Waxwings as well. We rarely have them in my garden as they prefer less open areas, but they showed up this year! Love them.