Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Spice Island Korean Spice Bush is a peculiar name, but this lovely flowering shrub will make a beautiful and welcome addition to your landscape. Tiny white flowers with hints of pink bloom in the spring, and the flowers form tight clusters that have a rounded appearance. This cultivar blooms with the green foliage fully expanded, giving this mounded shrub a very dense look. The foliage of the Viburnum carlesii will turn a dark burgundy in the fall.
This slow-grower will take a few years to reach full size. As an upright deciduous plant that will reach about 5 feet tall, this Spicebush will make a wonderful hedge. Use along a fence or foundation, create privacy along a patio or use as a focal point in a group planting. Feature this plant in a busy area where the fragrant spring-time flowers can be enjoyed. The Spice Island Korean Spice Bush grows as a perennial in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Spice Island Korean Spice Bush Care
Plant this beauty in full sun to partial shade. Soil should be moist, well-drained, and acidic to neutral. This plant likes evenly moist soil, but it does not like wet feet. Water established plants when the top few inches of the soil are dry. This plant is drought-tolerant, but it will benefit from a deep watering during a dry period.
Prune this shrub after the flowers fade but before the plant sets the following year’s buds. Get this Spice Bush off to a strong start each spring with a dose of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
Spice Island Korean Spice Bush Spacing
This woody, upright branched perennial will grow 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Shrubs can be planted 3 to 5 feet apart to create a continuous mass planting or hedge.
Spice Island Korean Spice Bush Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 9 (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 Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 4-5 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 4-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- 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
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Spice Island Korean Spice Bush
- Botanical Name
- VIBURNUM CARLESII 'SPICE ISLAND'
- Brand
- Plants That Work
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!