They bloom in spring, followed by attractive fruit and outstanding fall foliage.
Fast-growing perennial viburnums can grow one to two feet per year.
These plants can be used as hedges, ground cover, a privacy fence, and more.
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There is no single key in of viburnum foliage.
Leaves can be rounded, lance-shaped or toothed, smooth, velvety, or rough.
Viburnum Care
Once established, viburnum plants are fairly low-maintenance.
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The best time to transplant is typically in spring.
Leave about four feet between each plant.
To plant viburnum, dig a hole as deep as the container and twice as wide.
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Gently remove the plant from the container and place it in the center of the hole.
Backfill the hole halfway, add some water, then fill the hole completely.
After planting, add a 2-inch layer of mulch to help the soil hold in moisture.
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During hot weather, the shrubs should be watered every 7 to 10 days.
Little pruning is necessary, though some species can be trained to form tree-like plants by removing competing stems.
Light
Viburnums prefer full sun but will tolerate part shade.
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In fact, some afternoon shade is desirable in the warmer zones of the plant’s hardiness range.
Some varieties, like blackhaw viburnum, are particularly well-suited to partial shade.
Viburnums like slightly acidic soil but many types will tolerate alkaline soil.
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Water
A deep watering every week is usually sufficient, either through rainfall or irrigation.
Native varieties that are well-established have a fairly good drought tolerance.
Temperature and Humidity
Viburnums prefer moderate conditions, though the preferences vary greatly depending on the species.
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Extremely hot weather requires extra watering, and very cold temperatures can stunt the plant or cause dieback.
For the amount, follow the product label instructions.
Once established, most shrubs do well without any feeding.
Certain types can be deciduous or evergreen, depending on the area in which the plant grows.
There’s also a huge size range within viburnums, ranging from a height of two to 30 feet.
Deciduous Viburnums
Evergreen Viburnums
Pruning
Prune viburnum with sharp pruners.
Leggy shoots can be trimmed back in early summer to maintain the shrub’s form.
As viburnum blooms on old wood, pruning should be undertaken only after the bloom period.
Broken, dead, or diseased branches should be removed as soon as you notice them.
Tree forms of this plant may require some pruning to achieve the desired shape.
For softwood cuttings, choose a vigorous branch of four to six inches in length.
Remove leaves from the lower third.
Fill small pots with a moist mixture of peat and perlite.
Dip the stems inrooting hormone.
Plant the cutting in the pot.
Plant the viburnum in large containers with drainage holes.
The pot should be at least eight inches wider than the root ball.
This plant needs well-draining soil and full sun.
To avoid soggy soil, add 10 to 20 percent perlite to the mix.
Overwintering
Viburnum is hardy but might drop leaves in colder weather.
Prune off dead leaves and branches.
Come spring, your shrub will recover.
In mild winters, semi-evergreen viburnums will maintain some or all of their foliage.
However, the viburnum leaf beetle can be a problem.
This pest is capable of great damage and is being closely watched.
The best way to combat viburnum leaf beetles is to remove egg-infested leaves and encourage predatory insects.
Viburnums may struggle with aphids as well.
Some organic pesticides are also effective, but avoid synthetic pesticides, which also kill beneficial insects.
How to Get Viburnum to Bloom
Viburnums often bloom from early spring to late summer.
Watering might also be an issue, as viburnum needs to be in well-drained soil.
Remember that too much nitrogen can encourage lush foliage but stunt the explosion of blooms.
Common Problems with Viburnum
Fortunately, viburnum has few issues for gardeners to contend with.
This often occurs with trees that are already stressed.
There are many species and cultivars of viburnum with different light requirements.
Generally, viburnums prefer full sun but many can handle partial shade.
Viburnums and hydrangeas are both flowering shrubs, but they are not the same plant.
In fact, they are not even in the same plant family.
Some species of viburnum are evergreen or semi-evergreen, maintaining their foliage through the winter.
This is not the case for all viburnum species.
