Named for the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, "Cayuga" is a second-generation hybrid that stacks the genetics of Viburnum carlesii and V. x carlcephalum to arrive at a plant with unusually concentrated flower power for its size. Profuse blooming is its defining quality: in spring the shrub covers itself in 4-inch spherical clusters of white flowers that open from pink buds and carry the characteristic spiced fragrance of its Korean ancestors. The range of mature size, 4 to 10 feet tall and wide, reflects how much growing conditions influence the final result, with open, sunny sites and fertile soils encouraging larger plants and more shaded positions producing more restrained growth.

Through its carlesii lineage, "Cayuga" inherits reliable cold hardiness down to zone 5 and good deer resistance, a combination that makes it practical across a broad swath of North American gardens. It tolerates a range of soil types and becomes drought tolerant once established, though it performs best when moisture is available during the growing season. Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. The deciduous foliage provides little fall color interest compared to some viburnums, but the spring bloom performance is generous enough that most gardeners find the tradeoff easily worth accepting.