FIANIT

Viburnum 'Fianit' is a mid-late variety bred in 1995 at the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing thanks to free pollination of the Smolinskaya variety. The variety was named after the rich purple color of the berries, reminiscent of fiani crystals.

The bush is characterized by vigorous growth up to 2 m in height, a compact spherical crown, and weakly spreading branches with curved shoots. Flowering begins in early May, at which time the crown is covered with large, pale yellow, fragrant flowers. 'Fianit' is self-sterile, but for an optimal yield, the presence of a pollinator at a distance of 1.5–2 m is recommended.

The berries are of medium size (1.2–1.6 g, up to 1.6 cm) and have an oval oblong shape, thin skin without pubescence, and a bright blue-purple hue with a bluish bloom. The pulp is moderately juicy and fragrant; the taste is acid-sweet without bitterness; on the tasting scale it reaches 5 points. The berries are fragile: they poorly tolerate transportation and long-term storage – a few days in a cool place.

Yield begins in the third year after planting, at which time the berries ripen evenly and do not fall off. The variety is considered medium-yielding: from one adult plant you can collect from 1.5 to 2 kg of berries (approximately 32 c/ha when observing agrotechnical rules). The bush withstands low temperatures up to –50 °C well, but is not resistant to drought and prolonged hot weather, which can lead to a decrease in fruit size and increased acidity.

'Fianit' has a medium immunity to diseases and pests. The most dangerous are leaf mosaic, brown spot, viburnum fingered moth, aphid, and spider mite; timely sanitary inspections and preventive treatments with insecticides and fungicides help maintain the health of the plant.