Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
While it isn’t a plant version of the Spice Girls, ‘Spice Baby’ is just that, a compact shrub with a spicy fragrance that will entice you sit by her in the garden all the time. In the spring her flower buds are a deep pink opening up to a white flower with a pink back. Great as a pollinator for birds, bees and other insects.
Hardy from Zones 4-8, this smaller shrub has an upright, rounded appearance and does best in full sun to part sun. One of the more well-known native viburnums. The foliage turns wine red in the fall. This shrub is deciduous and loses its leaves in the winter. Cut a branch or two and bring into the home as a cut flower arrangement and provide glorious and hypnotic fragrance!
Spice Baby Viburnum Care
As with all viburnums, they are deer resistant, enjoy moisture rich but well-draining soil. Fertilize in spring with a slow release fertilizer for acid loving plants to ensure the best growth for her. Flower production is best in full sun. Blooming on old wood is a feature of this plant, so pruning Spicy Baby Viburnum is not needed unless to reduce size or to remove a broken or crossed branch.
Spice Baby Viburnum Spacing
‘Spice Baby’ can be used in a number of ways in the home landscape. It grows 3.5 ft. -5ft. tall and wide. Use it in a container as a showpiece, plant two of them on either side of your entrance to entice visitors into your home, as a background in your garden to attract pollinators or as a hedge to surround yourself with her fragrance! In the fall, the leaves turn a wine red color adding to the landscape!
Spice Baby Viburnum Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3.5-5 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3.5-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Early to Mid-Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Fall Interest, 3 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Spice Baby Viburnum
- Botanical Name
- Viburnum carlesii 'SMVCB' USPP 25,872
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Deciduous
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!