'Shasta' The U.S. National Arboretum presents the elegant Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta', the first doublefile viburnum cultivar to result from a breeding program. A magnificent profusion of extra large, pure white flowers in May plus a shorter, more horizontal growth habit make 'Shasta' a shrub without equal. Bright red fruits are a brief ornamental attraction in late July before providing a summer picnic for robins and other fruit-eating birds. Recognition:The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal Plant Award, 1991.

'Shasta' Doublefile Viburnum
Botanical Name:	Viburnum plicatum Thunb. f. tomentosum (Thunb.) Rehd. 'Shasta' (NA 36800; PI 427119)
Family:	Caprifoliaceae
Hardiness:	U.S.D.A. Zones 5b - 8
Development:	'Shasta' is the first doublefile viburnum cultivar to result from a breeding program for viburnum improvement. In 1954 a select V. plicatum f. tomentosum plant was crossed with V. plicatum f. tomentosum 'Mariesii'. From the 2nd generation of this hybrid population, a superior plant was selected in 1968, named and released in 1979.
Significance:	The abundant, large, lacecap inflorescences have sterile marginal florets that are 1 1/2 times larger than those found on other cultivars, and often have 5-15 inner sterile florets dispersed among the center fertile flowers. The growth habit is strongly horizontal, twice as wide as high.
Description:	Height and Width: 6.5 feet tall and 11.5 feet wide. Habit: Deciduous, strongly horizontal, large shrub, twice as wide as high. Foliage: Dark green leaves with 8-12 pairs of nearly straight veins. Fall coloration is dull purplish-red to maroon. Flowers: Abundant, large (4-6 inches), flat to mounded cymes in double rows along branches with 5-7 outer marginal florets larger than a half dollar, additional 5-15 inner sterile florets dispersed among inner fertile flowers. Fruit: A drupe. Bright red, upright fruit clusters ornamental for several weeks in late July.
Culture:	'Shasta' is readily cultivated under diverse climatic and soil conditions. It grows well in many exposures and soils, but does best in full sun with moderate moisture and well-drained soils. Requires light shade in more southern areas.
Propagation:	Roots easily from semi-hardwood cuttings under mist, 1000 ppm IBA, in 2-4 weeks.
Landscape Use:	Specimen plant, massed group, shrub border, good horizontal element in the landscape, particularly effective planted so as to be viewed from above.
Availability:	Readily available from mail-order firms and retail and wholesale nurseries.
U.S. National Arboretum Plant Introduction  Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit  U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20002