Viburnum farreri or fragrant viburnum is native to the northern provinces of China. It is one of the treasures made available to gardeners through the efforts of Reginald Farrer, British plant explorer extraordinaire, but it wasn't described as a new species until the middle of the twentieth century. This medium-sized shrub of an irregular habit is the first and last viburnum to bloom, with clusters of tiny pink buds that open to very fragrant white flowers in April and repeated blooms sporadically late in fall. The spring flowers emerge before the foliage and may be susceptible to late spring frosts.

Viburnums are a versatile genus of multi-stemmed shrubs that are well suited to the home landscape due to their range of sizes and cultural adaptability. Some viburnums are noted for their fragrant flowers; most bear small fruit that may add visual interest. Many viburnums have attractive fall color. There are more than 100 different varieties of viburnum at the Chicago Botanic Garden.