Thin Fence™ Viburnum

Thin Fence Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) is a tall, slim screening plant that grows up rather than out. Kept pruned it makes a screen 1.3m to 3m high and only 0.9m to 1.6m wide, and unpruned it grows much taller. Bred by Ozbreed for a green fence line that does not need clipping every few weeks.

Why you'll love it

• Grows up, not out. This fastigiate form puts its growth into height, so you get a tall, quick screen on a slender footprint.
• Less clipping. Ozbreed says it thrives with less intervention than regular viburnum hedges.
• Dense in sun, relaxed in shade. Full sun gives a dense screen. In moderate shade it becomes a looser, less dense shrub.
• Copes with dry and wet. It deals with both drought and periodic flooding, provided drainage is adequate.
• Good for wildlife. It is generally pest and disease resistant. Sap suckers can visit, and they are food for native wildlife.

Where it works best

Fence line screens. Plant 1m apart in a single row. A row of upright plants builds a tall green wall without the wide footprint of a normal hedge.

Narrow sites. Side passages, courtyards and boundary strips often have little width, which is where the slender habit pays off.

Feature shrub. Prune a single plant selectively back to a strong fork for a naturalistic, upright shrub or small tree.

Growing Thin Fence Viburnum in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for a dense screen, moderate shade for a sparser shape. Ozbreed lists it for Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Soil. Adequate drainage is the one request. Within that, it copes with drought and periodic flooding.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then it copes with dry spells. A slow release fertiliser in spring helps it fill in.

Pruning. When a young plant reaches 600mm, trim it back to 300mm to promote a bushy base. After that, hedge prune for a manicured shape, or prune selectively for a natural one. Horticultural oil (white oil) controls sap suckers safely.

What to expect when it arrives

Thin Fence Viburnum is listed as tube stock, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Stock comes from Ozbreed's licensed growers and is grown to order at times, so a pot size can show as backorder, and the tube shows as sold out until our grower lists it again. Order a backorder size and we confirm timing with you before anything ships. Tubes are the value choice for a long screen, and the 200mm plants give a taller start. It is a recent release and growers are still building stock.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full viburnum range
• More tall and narrow screening plants
• More hedging and screening plants
• See the full Ozbreed range

Common questions

How tall will it grow?

Pruned, it holds between 1.3m and 3m. Left alone it grows much taller, so decide your height and clip to it.

How do I get a bushy base?

Trim the young plant back to 300mm once it reaches 600mm. That one cut encourages fuller growth low down.

Does it flower?

The species carries clusters of small white flowers in spring. Ozbreed offers this form for its habit, so treat any flowers as a bonus.