Wayfaring tree is a vigorous treelike shrub common along paths and often found in hedgerows, woodland edges and scrub with dense clusters of creamy white flowers and pretty berries.Wayfaring trees have good wildlife value with leaves, flowers and berries all being attractive to a range of wildlife.
Soil and Situation
Any moist well drained soil with a preference for chalky soil, in full sun or partial shade and exposed or sheltered situation.
Leaves, flowers and berries
The leaves of the wayfaring tree are large, opposite, oval, slightly wrinkled in appearance with grey hairs underneath and on the twig (hence one of the common names – hoarwithy where hoar means hair and withy means a plant stem).
The flowers are large umbels of cream flowers with 5 petals weighing down the shrub when it is planted in a sunny site.The flowers are all identical in size whereas Viburnum opulus has larger flowers on the outside of the umbel graduating downwards in size towards the centre.
The plentiful fruits are oblong (like a squashed berry) beginning red and cream and then turning black and often having all colours on the same cluster of berries.
Eventual size and growth rate
Wayfaring trees grow to about 5m but can be trimmed as a hedge.Growth rate is medium up to 40cm pa.
Code:
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)
