Viburnum Eskimo or Arrowwood Eskimo

Viburnum Eskimo (commonly known as Arrowwood Eskimo) is a compact, slow‑growing, semi‑evergreen shrub valued for its snowball‑like clusters of pure white, sweetly fragrant flowers and its RHS Award of Garden Merit. It stays neat, rarely exceeding 1.5 m in either direction, making it ideal for modern gardens and smaller spaces.

Bred at the US National Arboretum from Viburnum ‘Cayuga’ and the hardy V. utile, this selection marries tubular, clove‑scented blooms with a dense, mound‑forming habit. Pink‑blushed buds open in mid‑ to late spring into perfectly spherical flower heads up to 10 cm across. The glossy, leathery, dark‑green leaves remain on the plant well into winter, taking on purple tints in colder weather. Birds enjoy the occasional red‑black berries that follow, while pollinators flock to the flowers.

The Viburnum family is a diverse and widely loved group of shrubs and small trees, known for their ornamental foliage, showy flowers and, in many cases, attractive berries. With over 150 species and countless cultivars, Viburnums range from fully evergreen types like Viburnum tinus to dramatic deciduous forms such as Viburnum plicatum. Flowering can occur from late winter through to early summer, with blooms that are often scented and highly attractive to pollinators. Many varieties also offer stunning autumn colour and long-lasting berries that support garden wildlife. Adaptable, easy to grow and available in a variety of shapes and sizes, Viburnums are a staple in UK gardens, lending themselves to hedging, specimen planting, mixed borders or containers.

Height & Width

Mature size: about 1.2 – 1.5 m high and wide over 8–10 years; growth is slow and naturally rounded, so little routine pruning is required.

Hardiness

Fully hardy throughout the UK (down to –20 °C). Flower buds cope well with late frosts, giving Viburnum Eskimo an edge over tenderer relatives such as Viburnum Plicatum.

Uses in Garden & Landscape

Perfect for a front‑of‑border punctuation point, low hedging, pathway accent or large plant container. Its neat stature and evergreen presence suit courtyard gardens, urban front gardens and foundation planting. Compared with the more vigorous Viburnum tinus group, Arrowwood Eskimo stays much smaller, flowers more fragrantly and colours up better in autumn.

Care Tips

Plant in any moderately fertile, well‑drained soil in sun or light shade. Water to establish, then only in prolonged drought. After flowering, remove spent heads and any wayward shoots; otherwise prune only to shape. A spring mulch of garden compost keeps roots cool and encourages strong new growth.