How to Grow and Care for Arrowwood Viburnum in Your Garden

Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a flowering shrub and a native plant to the eastern part of North America. Also known by the common names American arrowwood or Southern arrowwood, the name for arrowwood viburnum comes from the fact that the Native Americans once used the wood of this plant to make arrow shafts.

This deciduous shrub is part of the honeysuckle family and is commonly used as a hedge plant in landscaping. Arrowwood viburnum is round in shape with multiple stems that grow oval, dark green leaves with small spiky teeth around their edges. In fall, the plant’s leaves transition to vibrant fall colors, and in spring, it blooms creamy white flowers that bear blue-black berries.

Plant arrowwood viburnum in the fall or early spring, after the final frost has passed. Flowers will bloom in the spring with the black and blue fruits maturing in the late summer or early fall. This shrub thrives in a variety of climates, growing in USDA hardiness zones two through eight, and does best in full sun.

While arrowwood viburnums can be propagated from seed, the germination process can take about eight months and involves alternating stratification temperatures. For a higher chance of successful planting, it’s best to take softwood cuttings from an existing plant. Here is how to grow arrowwood viburnum from cuttings.

1. 1. Choose your planting spot. Arrowwoods prefer moist, well-drained soil, usually with a soil pH between 5.0 and 6.5. Prepare a growing container with this type of soil. Your growing container should also receive full sun to partial shade, with at least four hours of sunlight a day.
2. 2. Make your softwood cuttings. Cut a few branches from an established arrowwood viburnum bush. Make your cuttings about six inches long, and remove any leaves from the bottom two inches of your cutting.
3. 3. Plant your cuttings in a container. Apply a rooting hormone to the bottom of your cutting to jump-start the rooting process. Place the cutting in your soil-filled container in indirect sunlight and moisten occasionally. You’ll know your branch has rooted if you can gently pull on it without removing it from the soil.
4. 4. Transplant your cuttings. Once your cuttings have established roots, you are ready to transplant them in their final planting spots. Gently dig your softwood cuttings up without damaging their root systems. Dig a hole big enough to cover the roots, but not too deep as it can trap in too much moisture and lead to root rot. Plant your cutting and tamp it down with soil. Water your cutting immediately.

In addition to making sophisticated edging plants, arrowwood viburnum attracts useful pollinators such as butterflies, birds, and bees. Here are a series of care tips on how to properly maintain your arrowwood viburnums.

1. 1. More sun will produce showier flowers. While arrowwoods can grow in the shade, more sunlight will produce brighter blooms. However, too much direct sunlight can also cause damage to the plant.
2. 2. Monitor for whiteflies and viburnum leaf beetles. While arrowwood viburnum is mostly pest and disease resistant, the shrub is vulnerable to whiteflies (similar to aphids) and leaf beetles. Check the underside of your green leaves and shrub stems for spots or markings. Use an organic insecticide to treat any ongoing issues, or prune away and dispose of infected branches.
3. 3. Prune when necessary. Arrowwoods don’t require much maintenance, but occasional pruning to strip away any dead, broken, or diseased stems can help keep your foliage thriving.
4. 4. Fertilize in the spring. Use a balanced fertilizer or compost with organic matter around your planting site in the springtime to encourage luscious, vibrant growth.
5. 5. Use as a companion plant. Viburnums work well alongside plants like lilacs, onions, hydrangeas, and peonies. They attract beneficial insects like the spring azure butterfly and songbirds, which can aid in pollination and contribute to a more lush and healthy garden.

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