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VIBURNUM (vy-bur’-num) – A large genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, belonging to the Honeysuckle Family. They rank among the most ornamental and useful shrubs for general planting purposes. In habit they are mostly compact and bushy with attractive foliage, which in many cases takes on good fall coloring.

Most of them also have showy flowers, followed by decorative fruits. They are well suited for shrub borders and roadside planting and some make handsome single specimens on the lawn. They are not very particular as to soil and situation, although most of them prefer a place not too dry. Several can stand considerable shade. The deciduous species are mostly hardy, but only one evergreen species (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) can survive the northern winters. The snowball aphis sucks the sap from new leaves and shoots in the spring, ruining the bloom and causing leaves and shoots to curl. Since the curling starts almost before the aphids are visible to the naked eye, control is difficult. But a late dormant spray with a miscible oil as soon as the leaves start to unfold should greatly reduce the infestation.

Propagation is by seeds, best sown when ripe or stratified; by greenwood cuttings under glass; hardwood cuttings; layering and grafting.

Principal North American Species

Viburnum acerifollium (Dockmackie) grows to about 5 ft. with slender upright branches and maple-like leaves. It is good under-shrub, and does fairly well in dry places. The yellowish-white flowers are borne in small clusters, and the fruit is almost black; neither is very showy. The leaves take on a rosy-purple tone in fall.

alnifolium (Hobblebush, American Wayfaring Tree) is a vigorous grower to 10 it. or more, with large handsome dark green wrinkled leaves, turning reddish purple in fall. It has conspicuous flat clusters of white flowers, the outer ones large and sterile, followed by purple-black berries. It is somewhat slow to get established, and prefers a moist and half-shady place.

affinis is a compact shrub to 6 ft., with dense clusters of white flowers freely produced, followed by bluish-black berries.

cassinoides (Writhe-rod) is one of the handsomest of native shrubs. In the wild it is usually found in moist places, sometimes 15 ft. or more high. In cultivation in the open it makes a compact round-headed specimen. It has finely toothed leaves and clusters of creamy-white flowers in June. In the fall it is outstanding in fruit, with heavy clusters of berries varying in color from yellowish-green to pink and blue-black.

dentatum (Arrow-wood) is an upright bushy grower to 15 ft. or more, with roundish coarsely-toothed leaves, wide clusters of white flowers in June, and blue-black berries. It does well in moist ground, and is also good for shady places and under trees.

lentago (Sheep-berry, Nanny-berry) is a tall shrub or small tree with large lustrous leaves, clusters of creamy-white flowers and juicy black berries. It is distinguished in winter with its long pointed buds.

molle is a very dense grower to 12 ft., with coarsely-toothed leaves, white flowers and blue-black berries. It is distinguished in winter by the flaky bark and light gray young stems.

Prunifolium (Black-haw) is a large shrub or small tree with wide spreading branches; often the outstanding feature of rocky hillsides in the East. It has handsome foliage, clusters of pure white flowers, followed by blue-black and bloomy berries.

rufidulum (Southern Black-haw) makes a tree to 40 ft., with wide-spreading branches in the South, but in the North is usually a shrub. It has dark green shining leaves, and is distinguished by rusty brown hairs on the leaf and flower stalks. The flowers are pure white in a broad cluster, and the berries are dark blue and bloomy.

pubescens is a good free-flowering shrub in early summer. It has small compact clusters of white flowers followed by black fruits. Var. canbyi has larger leaves and flower clusters, and is the latest to bloom.

trilobum, better known as Viburnum americanum, (Cranberry-Bush) is the native form of the European Viburnum apulus. It is a large handsome shrub with 3-lobed leaves which turn a brilliant color in fall. It has showy clusters of white flowers, the outer ones large and sterile. The large heavy clusters of scarlet, juicy herries color early and remain decorative until spring.

Principal Asiatic Species

Viburnum carlesi is one of the most desirable shrubs, valued for its very fragrant pink and white flower clusters, opening with the leaves. It is of rounded form to 5 ft. or so, and is sometimes grafted, so sucker growths should be checked. Its blue-black berries are not freely produced.

bitchuiense is somewhat similar to Viburnum carlesi, but is of rather straggly habit, with smaller leaves and flower clusters. Not as desirable for general planting.

fragrans grows to 10 ft. and has short panicles of very fragrant pink and white flowers in advance of the leaves.

dilatatum is a large and handsome shrub to 10 ft. or more, free flowering and very conspicuous in fall with an abundance of small scarlet berries, often remaining well into winter.

hupeheuse grows to about 6 ft. and is of rounded form; very showy in fall with a profusion of small round scarlet berries.

lobophyllum grows to 15 ft. and is a striking plant in fall with its heavy clusters of bright scarlet berries. The young growth has a waxy bloom.

wrighti is similar to Viburnum dilatatum, but with smaller flower clusters and larger berries often so freely produced that the branches are weighted to the ground. The fruit and foliage are retained in good condition for some time.

theiferum is a narrow upright grower with very handsome leaves but rather plain flower clusters. It is very decorative in fruit with clusters of large ovoid scarlet berries. The tops are likely to be killed back in severe winters. The specific name comes from the fact that in China Buddhist monks make from the leaves an infusion known as Sweet Tea.

tomentosum is one of the handsomest of the family. It is outstanding in form with its wide-spreading horizontal branches, bearing handsome leaves and showy clusters of white flowers along the upper side. The clusters are conspicuous with an outer ring of large and sterile flowers. It is also attractive in fruit, which changes from scarlet to black. Var. sterile, better known as plicatton, and the most familiar of the “Snowball” forms, is a dense grower with compact heads of white sterile flowers. It is not always entirely hardy or easy to transplant.

sieboldi is a tree-like shrub with bright green lustrous leaves which give off a disagreeable odor when bruised. It is very showy in bloom with large clusters of white flowers, followed by berries changing from red to black and soon falling.

sargenti is the Asiatic form of Viburnum opulus, and much like the North American Viburnum trilobum. It has larger sterile flowers than these, and is the handsomest of the three in bloom. It is of good compact habit. Var. Raman has yellow fruit.

rhytidophyllum is a handsome evergreen species growing to about 10 ft. with long dark green wrinkled leaves, yellowish and felt-like beneath. It bears large flat clusters of yellowish-white flowers and fruit changing from red to black. It needs a protected position for the sake of the foliage and kills back in below-zero weather. It is the only evergreen species that may be kept alive outdoors in the North.

Principal European Species

Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring-tree) is a vigorous shrub to 15 ft. with light green wrinkled leaves, white beneath, turning deep red in fall. It has clusters of white flowers and berries which change from red to black. It will thrive in drier places than most and is much used as a stock for grafting purposes.

opulus (European Cranberry-bush) is a vigorous grower to 12 ft. with 3-lobed leaves turning crimson and orange in fall. It has clusters of showy white flowers and scarlet juicy fruit. Var. nanum is a dwarf compact non-flowering form with small leaves, useful in foundation plantings. Var. roseum (Common Snowball, Guelderrose) has all the flowers sterile in a globose head. It is often attacked by black aphis. Var. xanthocarpum is a yellow-fruited form.

tinus (Laurestinus) is the most useful of the evergreen species where hardy. A bushy grower to 10 ft. or more, it has dark, glossy-green leaves and clusters of pinkish-white flowers, which, in mild climates, open during the winter. It may be grown in pots for winter flowering in the cool greenhouse.