Viburnum Guide: How to Grow Viburnum in Your Garden

Viburnum is a flowering shrub within the Adoxaceae plant family that can grow as a deciduous, semi-evergreen, or evergreen plant. Viburnum is a commonly-used decorative hedge that visually complements many other different types of plants. Certain cultivars can produce snowball types of flowers, which are rounded and bush-like, or clusters with flat tops, similar to lace-cap hydrangeas.

While sterile species of viburnum will not produce fruit, many produce drupes, or small berries, which can appear as blue, purple, red, or black fruits. There are around 150 types of viburnum shrubs that are native to a series of diverse places, and each kind may require different conditions to thrive.

There are around 150 different species of viburnum. Some grow as trees, while other types form bushes. A few common types of viburnum include:

1. 1. Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum): Arrowwood viburnum is a shrub that is native to the eastern United States. Specific arrowwood cultivars like “blue muffin” have green foliage and sprout white flowers, followed by blue-black berries.
2. 2. Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium): Blackhaw viburnum is native to eastern North America and usually grows as a small tree or large shrub. This plant sprouts flat-topped, white flower clusters that appear around its foliage.
3. 3. Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii): This semi-evergreen species is a cross between Korean spice viburnum and the service viburnum (Viburnum utile). This viburnum can tolerate full sun or part shade and will produce white, fragrant flowers.
4. 4. Chinese snowball viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum): Chinese snowball viburnum is a flowering shrub that can grow anywhere from 10–20 feet tall, with blooms that can grow up to eight inches. These viburnums have sterile flowers, so they do not produce any fruit.
5. 5. Cranberrybush viburnum (Viburnum opulus): Cranberrybush viburnum is also known as the European cranberry bush, the American cranberrybush, or the snowball bush depending on the specific cultivar. These plants are native to the Northern part of North America. This bush can grow up to 15 feet tall, and sprouts bright red berries that are mildly toxic to humans though they are a favorite of wild birds.
6. 6. David viburnum (Viburnum davidii): This evergreen shrub typically sprouts white flowers, has darker leaves, and produces blue fruit. It can be sensitive to full, direct sunlight and is generally found in more temperate climates.
7. 7. Doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum): Viburnum plicatum, also known as the Japanese snowball, is a horizontally-branched deciduous shrub with lush green foliage and small, bright red fruit. This viburnum shrub can grow anywhere from 6–8 feet tall and blooms in the late spring.
8. 8. Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii): Korean spice viburnum has small pink buds that bloom into striking white and pink flowers. Its dark green leaves gradually transition into their dark red in the fall as its red berries turn into black berries. This plant has a pleasant, spicy scent, and can grow up to six feet tall.
9. 9. Laurustinus viburnum (Viburnum tinus): Laurustinus viburnum is an evergreen shrub that is mainly native to the Mediterranean, making it more salt and drought-tolerant. It blooms pink-white flower clusters that are deer-resistant.
10. 10. Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum): Leatherleaf viburnum is native to Asia and adaptable to most soil types. These evergreen shrubs grow fuzzy brown stems that produce large, wrinkled leaves. Leatherleaf produces creamy-white flowers with blue berries.
11. 11. Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium): The mapleleaf viburnum has leaves that resemble small maple leaves, with a green color that transitions to red/purple in the fall. It naturally appears in ravines and on hillsides, growing small white flowers and blue-black berries.
12. 12. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago): The nannyberry can grow as either a tree or shrub and grows green leaves that transition to maroon in the fall. Nannyberry viburnums can grow anywhere from 15–20 feet tall, and produce edible berries that are safe for human consumption.
13. 13. Tea viburnum (Viburnum setigerum): Tea viburnum is native to China and has small flower clusters that produce fruit. This shrub can grow up to eight feet wide and around 12 feet tall.
14. 14. Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana): The wayfaring tree is native to parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is a dense, perennial shrub that can appear as a deciduous, evergreen, or semi-evergreen species. It has leathery leaves and creamy white blossoms.

Viburnums grow in USDA hardiness zones 2–9, and can usually be planted in the fall or spring depending on your specific climate. If you live in a more temperate climate, it can be beneficial to plant in the fall.

Different cultivars of viburnum may also have different temperature requirements. For instance, some viburnums are hardy at zero degrees Fahrenheit, while others may incur damage to their foliage if temperatures dip below 10–15 degrees Fahrenheit. Viburnums are very adaptable but they prefer well-draining, loamy soil. Their flowers bloom from early spring to late summer.

Growing viburnums from seed can be a lengthy and complex process, with germination alone taking months. Planting viburnums from softwood cuttings is typically the quickest and easiest way to establish a viburnum plant and get it growing. For a few steps on growing viburnum, see below:

1. 1. Obtain your softwood cuttings. Find an established viburnum shrub or tree and pick out an immature plant with plenty of shoots and a branch that still has a slight bend to it. Cut the branch anywhere from three to six inches from the end of the branch, making sure that your cutting has at least four true leaves (two sets of two leaves). It’s best to make this cut in the morning before the moisture evaporates.
2. 2. Pick off the leaves. Remove the lower set of leaves from your cutting, which will encourage new growth to form, and trim the bottom of your stem. You can apply a rooting hormone to the base of your cutting to speed along the process, but it is optional.
3. 3. Root your cuttings. Plant your cuttings in a tray or small pot filled with potting mix, keeping the conditions moist and humid to encourage rooting, which can take at least four weeks.
4. 4. Plant your cuttings once they’ve grown roots. Once your viburnum roots have started to grow, you can transfer your cuttings into a larger pot or directly plant them in your garden. If you’re planting several viburnums for hedges or rows, keep the plants about four to five feet apart (though they may need up to 10 feet apart depending on the cultivar).

Though different viburnum species have a variety of growth habits and requirements, there are a few general care tips that are applicable to most types.

1. 1. Consider how you will pollinate your viburnum. If you want your shrubs and trees to produce a lot of fruit, you may have to cross-pollinate them with other species. Plant your viburnum near other viburnum species to facilitate the pollination process and increase the berry yield.
2. 2. Mulch your viburnum. Mulching your soil periodically will help it retain moisture and keep weeds at bay. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk, and maintain a consistent layer of organic matter over the root zone of your viburnum all year round.
3. 3. Prune your viburnum in the late winter or early spring. Prune any dead or damaged branches from your shrubs and trees in the late winter or early spring. Trim back the foliage to keep growth from overshadowing other plants or harboring pests and diseases. Sterilize your garden tools before making any cuts to your vegetation.
4. 4. Provide plenty of sunlight. Full sun will produce the strongest blooms for your viburnum, but direct sun may burn particular species of the bush. Make sure to choose a garden spot that gets just the right amount of shade and sunlight every day.
5. 5. Check for pests and diseases. Leaf beetles and powdery mildew can be a nuisance to your greenery, even though viburnums are generally pest and disease-resistant. Introduce beneficial insects like lady beetles or lacewings to your garden to feed on leaf beetle larvae, or use an organic insecticide to rid your garden of the pests. You can also hand-remove eggs and infected leaves/stems.

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