Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus)

Our range of Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) bare root plants

We have Viburnum opulus bare root plants in several sizes and specifications.   The 1U1 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were planted from seed in the spring and instead of being sold in the following November to April period (as is normal with most of the range of bare root hedging plants and shrubs) they are kept in the same position in our fields and grown on for a further year or longer which makes a strong bushy plant.  The roots are undercut by machine to develop a fibrous root system  All these plants are grown by us in Herefordshire.

We always have several batches of seed of Viburnum opulus including UK provenance and the highest quality imported seed so if the seed provenance is particularly important to you, please give us a call so that we can allocate plants from the most appropriate batch.

You can read more about the specifications of our plants in the tab just below the pricing table - just to the right of this product description.

Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) Summary

Not a rose at all despite its name but just as showy and with masses of wildlife benefit, Guelder rose is an upright, spreading deciduous shrub good in hedgerows and as a woodland shrub but also in damp situations in lowland areas – it’s relatively rare in Scotland. Guelder rose is a profuse flowerer with large clusters of pretty white flowers and then in autumn it absolutely drips in red shiny berries which look a bit like bunches of redcurrants – very popular with thrushes and finches.

Soil and Situation

All soil types except very acidic and does best in moist fertile soil in sun or partial shade, and is useful on ditch banks or in damp woodland margins.

Leaves, flowers and fruit

The leaves are broad, opposite, three lobed, up to 10cm long, somewhat wrinkled, hairy underneath, with coarsely serrated edges and whilst green in spring and summer, turn good autumn colours of yellow and red.

The flowers are spectacular!  Large umbels of pretty white (sometimes tinged pink) flat topped 5 petal flowers which graduate in size from larger at the outside of the umbel to tiny in the middle – unlike Viburnum lantana where all the flowers are the same size. 

The berries are red, shiny and somewhat translucent and held in bunches – very much like redcurrants though those of Guelder rose are toxic unless cooked.

The guelder rose has smooth, thin grey twigs and similar bark.

Eventual height and growth rate

Guelder rose is a large shrub growing to about 4m, but it can be trimmed as a hedge.  It’s growth rate is moderate at about 40cm pa.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)