Viburnum dilatatum 'Catskill' is a new, highly ornamental, cultivar developed by ARS scientists in America from seed obtained from Japan. It takes about 15 years to reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 2.5m and is therefore ideal for container cultivation. produces Small creamy-white flowers are produced in abundance in mid-May. The cultivar has small round leaves that are dark green throughout the summer and turn yellow, orange and red in the autumn. It produces dark red berries that persist until mid winter. The shrub is easy to grow and well adapted to hardiness zones 5b-8 (-6°C to -25°C). It grows best in a moist, slightly acid soil. It will flower and fruit better in full sun but in very hot climates partial shade is recommended. For further information on commercial availability contact Ruth L. Dix (001 202 245 4762 www.ars.usda.gov or the US National Arboretum, Washington www.usna.usda.gov Another flowering shrub that should be of interest to Italian growers is Syringa 'Betsy Ross' developed specifically for warmer climates. It derives from a cross between S. oblata collected in China as the male parent and an unidentified Syringa from Rochester, New York, as the female. It is recommended for its abundant, white, fragrant flowers and rounded growth habit and shows good field tolerance to powdery mildew. This cultivar will be commercially available 2002/2003.