It's hard to choose a favorite among viburnum variations

"Contestant number one: What stands around 6 foot tall, likes well-drained soil with even moisture, tolerates sun to part shade, has pink buds that open to white snowball flowers and lovely burgundy fall color?"

"I believe that would be Koreanspice viburnum."

"You are absolutely correct. We also would have accepted Judd viburnum, which is very similar but with a slightly more open habit and superior disease resistance.

"Contestant number two, your question: This is an adaptable plant for sun to part shade. Creamy white, flat-topped flowers appear in May. Dark-green leathery foliage often remains on this plant into November. Brilliant red fruit matures to dark purple. It ..."

"Allegheny viburnum."

"Correct. This viburnum has a rounded habit and can reach 10 by 10 feet. Interestingly, a few leaves may even hold on until spring.

"Now, contestant number three: This plant is covered with 2- to 3-inch diameter showy white flowers in April to May. Its leaves are maplelike in appearance. Best in full sun. One common name for this plant is Snowball bush."

"I believe that's Viburnum opulus Roseum."

"Correct! This old favorite can reach 10 to 12 feet tall and has a rounded habit. Unfortunately, it can be plagued by aphids, so watch out."

Our contestants did quite well to come up with the correct answers from this genus of over a hundred species and many cultivars. Viburnums can range in size from 3 to 30 feet. Some are fragrant. There are also variations in the color of berries, but flower color is usually white, with an occasional pink.

One fragrant variety is Burkwood viburnum, which has round-topped clusters of pink buds that open to white flowers in early spring.

Burkwood is taller than Judd or Koreanspice viburnum, growing to 8 to 10 feet with a slightly narrower spread. The dark green foliage is glossy and holds its color late. Mohawk, a variety of Burkwood, is more compact at 7 by 7 feet. Its disease resistant foliage also has good orange-red fall color.

A popular variety in our area is Chicago Lustre. It is a type of Arrowwood viburnum with a rounded habit, topping off at about 10 feet. Fall color is an inconsistent reddish-purple. The straight species, Viburnum dentatum, grows 6 to 8 feet with a similar or wider spread. Fall color ranges from red to reddish-purple to yellow.

Both varieties have creamy white flat-topped flowers in May to early June and develop bluish to blue-black fruit.

A newer variety is the more compact Blue Muffin. It grows to a height of about 5 to 6 feet and produces an abundance of flowers and fruit even at a young age.

With a mature height of 12 to 15 feet, Blackhaw viburnum is one of the taller varieties and can be trained either as a large shrub or small tree. This rounded shrub boasts shiny smooth foliage that turns an attractive red to bronze color in the fall. The fruit is striking, starting out pink and maturing to blue-black. This adaptable plant tolerates most soils, will grow in sun to shade, and even handles dry soils. (Dry soil does not equal "I can plant that shrub and never water it.")

American cranberrybush is a type of viburnum with maplelike leaves. Before you ask, no, it's not that kind of cranberry. Several cultivars exist, but one of the newer ones is Redwing. Spring foliage on this rounded 8-foot Viburnum is reddish. Large flat-topped white flowers appear in May followed by bright red berries in the fall.

Many viburnums, including this species, will have better fruit production if planted in groups or with other similar cultivars.

Pick your favorite viburnum and there is sure to be a place for it in your garden.