A Basic Guide to Viburnums

Viburnums are broad-leafed, fast-growing bushes. With more than 150 species, viburnums are among the most popular shrubs used in gardening today.

About Viburnums

Viburnums are incredibly versatile. Able to grow in USDA zones 2 through 9 (which covers a vast region of the United States), viburnums can tolerate hot and cold temperatures, wet and dry soils, and direct sun as well as shade.

While viburnums are indeed tolerant of all kinds of sites, the best location is usually partly shaded, has good drainage, and has soil with a pH of 5.6 to 6.6, though alkaline soils are fine locations for viburnums, too.

Interestingly, viburnums belong to the Honeysuckle family. Viburnums can be allowed to grow as small trees (which can grow more than 10' high and wide), and there are dwarf varieties also (with normal heights and widths of less than 3' to 5'). Viburnums planted as specimens look beautiful, but viburnums are also popularly planted in hedges. Viburnums, in fact, make great privacy screens that can, through frequent and proper pruning, form very thick and dense rows that will make for a handsome and effective border, property line boundary, and so forth.

Viburnum leaves are not uniform. Some are long, broad, and oval in shape, others are short and rounder.

Overall growth tendencies can range from short and compact to lanky and mounding.

Viburnums are also fantastic plants to include conservation and wooded locations, and the viburnums' fruit and flowers are wonderful for attracting birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Some Viburnum Species

There are too many species of viburnum to list each one here, but let's look at a few of the more-popular varieties.

Viburnum Dentatum (Arrowood Viburnum): has primarily vertical growth and a mature height of about 6' to 8'. Arrowood viburnum has 2" to 3" oval or round leaves and small clusters of white flowers which bear blue to black berries. Grows in zones 4-8.

Viburnum Prunifolium (Black Haw): Forms as a tree, with a defined, single trunk and a height of 12' to 15'. Leaves are oval shaped and 2" to 3" long and often turn purple-colored in autumn. Black haw grows clusters of white flowers and bears fruit colored blue to black. Grows in zones 3-8.

Viburnum rhytidophyllum (Leatherleaf Viburnum): An evergreen viburnum variety in warmer climates and semi-evergreen in cooler areas. Leatherleaf viburnum hails from China and grows up to 15' high and 12' wide. Various cultivars of leatherleaf viburnums flower at different times of the year. Grows in zones 5-8.

Viburnum Plicatum f. Tomentosum (Doublefile Viburnum): A deciduous viburnum which grows in horizontal layers, usually in a rounded shrub form. Doublefile viburnums can grow up to 10' in height and 12' wide. White flower clusters typically grow in pairs and bear fruit in colors ranging form red to black. Grows in zones 5-8.

More About Viburnums

Viburnums are truly a wonderful plant that can make a home most anywhere in the country and can fulfill a number of roles in the home landscape.

Because many kinds of viburnums grow very quickly, it is important to prune these shrubs frequently if being used in a formal hedge. Be sure to plant your viburnums accordingly. Do not stick a tiny 1 or 3-gallon viburnum straight from the home center in a confined area if that cultivar is known to grow to a large size!

Be sure to check out your nearest garden center or home improvement store to look for viburnums to liven up and beautify your yard!

Resources:

Bradley, Fern Marhsall, Ed. Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. Rodale; Emmaus, Pennsylvania: 1992.

Iannotti, Marie. "Viburnums." About.com. 13 December 2008. http://gardening.about.com/od/treesshrubs/a/Viburnums.htm

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