This Asian shrub grows well in partial shade and well-drained soil. It can reach up to 6’ and has a rather open appearance with arching branches. The small whitish-pink flowers open in late May and are marvelously fragrant- one can smell the shrub before happening upon it! Some say the fragrance resembles lilacs (Syringa sp.).

‘Cayuga’ is another Asian shrub that is actually a cross between Korean spice viburnum and fragrant snowball viburnum. This is a large, deciduous shrub growing to about 10’ tall and prefers full to partial sun. Pink buds open to white, waxy flowers which give off a delicious fragrance! This viburnum is great as an accent or for the shrub border.

‘Paliban,’ also known as dwarf Korean lilac, is not your grandmother’s lilac! This compact and rounded shrub makes a great border in full or partial sun. Its light purple flowers bloom profusely in late spring with a heady, sweet fragrance that is also a good attractor of hummingbirds and swallowtail butterflies. This cultivar is resistant to powdery mildew a disease that often strikes other lilacs.

Witch Alder is a shrub native to the southeastern US. Their bottle-brush shaped creamy white flowers bloom in April with a lovely scent reminiscent of honey. This is a fairly adaptable and long-lived shrub and can grow to 10’ tall with a similar spread. A shrub for all seasons, its leaves turn a fiery orangey-red in autumn.