I first noticed the beautiful redolence of Koreanspice viburnum(Viburnum carlesii ) planted as a hedge at a commercial site . The President Bush were as marvellous as minuscule Tree and had an abundant display of reddish pink buds turning to white flowers . I knew that viburnums needed more hours of daily sun than usable in our wooded grand , but I had to try one . I brought home just one , not realizing that in this case more than one viburnum was necessary for fruiting , since no Chuck Berry ever appeared . ( More on this afterwards . ) Although the bush bring about some bloom in the spring ( more sunlight would have encouraged more blooms ) , there were no blue - black fruits in crepuscle to attract boo .
WHY PLANT genus Viburnum
Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 mintage of blossom plant in the moschatel family Adoxaceae . ( Viburnum was previously included in the honeysuckle mob Caprifoliaceae . ) Viburnum are evergreen or deciduous , depending on the species and the positioning . Most favor sunshine , but some do well in partial shade . Their boldness is well suited to the insensate winter of USDA hardiness zone 7 . They are adaptable to a range of soil character and wet conditions . Most genus Viburnum offer attractive foliage , with a multifariousness of leaf size , texture , and colouration . Many species offer eye - catching decline colouring material in ruby-red - orange , Burgundy wine , or reddish - purple . White flush seem in early spring or even in mid summer . By choose choice with unlike prime time , gardeners can insure a long flowering menstruation . In fall , Berry appear in long drupes in colors ranging from red to pink , darkening to blue or purple - black . The fruit are a good nutrient source for minuscule mammalian and birds such as the Eastern Bluebird , Northern Flicker , Gray Catbird , and American Robin . The berries of the blackhaw viburnum ( V. prunifolium ) can be made into conserve or eaten off the President George W. Bush . Berries of the nurse berry ( V. lentago ) are also eatable . Most viburnums are principally disease and pest - resistant , although some are subject to the viburnum folio mallet . aboriginal viburnums are noted as having extra value for native bees , and draw many different types of butterflies and moth . Some native viburnum species are larval hosts to the Spring Azure butterfly stroke ( Celastrina ladon ) . caterpillar of the Hummingbird Clearing Moth ( Hemaris thysbe ) host on European cranberry bush ( V. opulus ) .
With so many viburnum species to consider , in this article I will concentrate onviburnums native to Virginia . I will also direct how many viburnums are needed to assure fruiting , and the local threat from theviburnum leaf mallet .
VIBURNUMS NATIVE TO VIRGINIA
Southern Arrowwood(V. dentatum)is a deciduous bush native to easterly North America . In Virginia , it is discover in the coastal plain , Piedmont , and raft regions . Native Americans reportedly used the straight stems of this specie for pointer shaft . This viburnum grow in USDA hardiness zone 3 - 8 and is adaptable to unlike grime types and moisture levels . Although it prefers moist loam , it can tolerate clay soil and is fairly drought tolerant once established . It can raise in full or fond sun . It grows 6 - 10 ’ tall and all-encompassing but can reach 15 ’ in optimal conditions . It is a good campaigner for hedges . White flowers are not fragrant but appear in flat - toppedcymesabout 4 ” across in May and June . Flowers give way to blue - black , berry - like drupes . Glossy green , ovate , toothed leaf produce declension colors that rank from dreary yellowness to attractive dark glasses of orange and red . Although not particularly showy , this is a reliable , cold - hardy bush tolerant of diverge conditions with Charles Edward Berry that provide intellectual nourishment for both birds and small mammals . It is a larval host to the Blue Azure butterfly ( Celastrina ladon ) .
Nannyberry(V. lentago)is aboriginal to North America and in Virginia is find in the peck area . It grows 12 - 18 ’ tall and 6 - 12 ’ wide with an open tip and arc branch . One account for the unwashed name is that overripe berries have an unpleasant olfactory modality like soused woollen . Another account is that nursemaid goats are more fond of the right berries than are billy goats . The shrub is drought resistant , can boom in full sun to partial shade , and can well be gown in average soils . It boom in USDA hardiness zones 2 - 8 . In May , bloodless flower appear in cluster up to 3 - 5 ” across , and attract many pollinators . Nannyberry is also emcee to the Blue Azure butterfly . Variable fall color ranges from drab greenish - yellowness to reddish - purpleness . eatable , blue - black , berry - similar drupe hang in clustering from red stems . The berry often stay into winter and are attractive to birds and wildlife .
Smooth Blackhaw ( V. prunifolium)is native to eastern and primal North American in USDA hardiness zones 3 - 9 . In Virginia , it is find in the coastal plain , Piedmont , and slew regions . It is easy grown in modal , dry - to - intermediate , well - enfeeble soil and can allow drouth . It prefers at least ½ twenty-four hours sunlight . Usually grow as a big , upright , multi - stemmed , deciduous shrub , it typically reach a height of 12 - 15′ with a banquet of 6 - 12′. When acquire as a individual trunk tree , it may reach a height of 30′. In May to June , white , non - fragrant flowers appear in flat - topped cymes up to 4.5 ” across . The blackhaw uniquely place it flowers above its leaves ( while the heyday on many Viburnum are nest ) . The flowers are followed by yellow berries that turn dingy - black in decline . Fruits are edible and may be eaten off the bush when good or used in fix and conserves . They are also favored by birds and diminished mammals . The acerbic barque was formerly used medicinally . This durable and pest - free plant is especially valuable to bumble bee . Blackhaw can be used as a small specimen tree or large specimen shrub . It is also used as a border addition , as a grandiloquent hedging or screen , or as a setting planting in a aboriginal garden .
Possumhaw ( V. nudum),also commonly calledsmooth witherod or baseless raisin , is native to the eastern and southeastern U.S. , from Connecticut south to Florida and Louisiana . In Virginia , it is found in the mountain , Piedmont , and coastal plains regions . It get in USDA hardiness zone 5 - 9 . This rounded , multi - cauline , upright - open , deciduous shrub typically grow in the wilderness to 5 - 12′ tall and wide but can attain 20′ in top . Although it prefers moist grime in full sun it will tolerate spook and can come through periods of drouth . Small creamy - livid flowers appear in April and May and are pollinated by many small insect , include hoverflies and sweat bee . The possumhaw is host to the Blue Azure butterfly . In late summertime to early fall , blossom are followed by clusters of ovoid berries that change color as they mature , from light pink to deep pink to blue to purplish - smuggled . The Berry are feed by songbird , beef , unfounded turkeys , and squirrel . glistening dark green leaves can turn an attractive maroon to dark red - purple in declension . Native to humiliated Sir Henry Wood , swamps and bogs , possumhaw is a good nominee for pelting gardens . Be cognisant that this industrial plant ismoderatelyresistant to damage from deer . cultivar such as ‘ Bulk ’ , sold under the craft name of BRANDYWINE , are available in the nursery trade . Straight metal money can be found online .
Mapleleaf ( V. acerifolium)is native to eastern North America from southwestern Quebec and Ontario south to northern Florida and easterly Texas . In Virginia , it is found in the coastal plain , Piedmont , and mountain regions and is able to do well in full tad and dry soils . It grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 - 8 . It grow mostly in acerb soil of pH 5.0 to 6.5 , but can endure up to 7.5 . This low , dumbly fork-like shrub grows 4 - 6′ tall and 3 - 4′ broad . Small blanched flowers seem in flat - topped clusters 1.5 - 3 ” across in early summer , followed by crimson berry turn to purple then black . The yield is a food source for many birds and little mammals ; the flowers draw in pollinators such as bees and butterfly stroke . Mapleleaf is larval host to the Blue Azure butterfly . The upright shrub often ground gull and grows in heavy clod . Bright- to gloomy - green , deciduous leaf , maple - the like in form , turns a distinctive purplish pink in fall , making this a very worthy native shrub .
HOW MANY VIBURNUMS DO I NEED TO PLANT ?
This is an significant query that I would like to reply just and definitively , but there just is n’t enough information from the sources I ’ve research . First , let ’s remind ourselves that unfolding will occur whether or not pollination come . Pollination is necessary for fruiting , in this case , berry production . Now get ’s review definitions . Moneciousmeans that there are disjoined male and female part on the same plant . The plant is self - prolific and you would only call for one flora to give rise fruit . Dioeciousmeans that there are only flowers of one sex on a plant . You would therefore need one male and one distaff industrial plant so as to regurgitate .
Out of the five aboriginal genus Viburnum covered in this article , Virginia Tech Dendrology identifies mapleleaf ( V. acerifolium ) as being monoecious ; the other four natives are not identified as being either monoecious or dioecian . concord to the New York Botanical Garden FAQ , “ Viburnums are monoicous but you will get well fruits by planting plants from different sources . This is particularly reliable ofV. davidiiwhich is usually trace as being dioecious . ”
harmonise to NCState prolongation , “ As a general dominion of ovolo , viburnums are not self - fertile . This means that you require two compatible plants to cross - pollinate to get the maximum fruit production . This does not signify that you could plant two of the same knockoff / cultivar and gestate yield ( you call for transmitted diversity ) . Another critical requirement is that for pollination to come about , both plant life have to be blooming at the same time . ”
allot to the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at California Polytechnic Institute , all 14 of the viburnum coinage included in their recap were classify as monecious , include the two aboriginal viburnums on their lean , blackhaw and nannyberry .
So , where does all this depart us ? You ca n’t tell if a plant life is male or distaff unless it ’s in flower , and even then I would need assistance . If you are concerned in making trusted your Viburnum produce fruit , you could pertain to the following web log which I found very helpful in explaining the exit and proposed solutions:“Native Viburnums and Cross - Pollination , What the Nursery Is n’t Telling You . ”
A simplified sum-up of the blog :
Two genetically different plant of the same species should be set in pretty close propinquity . And , those genetically different industrial plant must be in flower at the same prison term so that visiting insect pollinators can do their problem . To ascertain genetic diversity :
VIBURNUM LEAF BEETLE
Viburnum Leaf Beetle ( Pyrrhalta virnum ) is bit by bit come to the Southeastern U.S. The beetle is native to Europe and was observe in Canada in 1947 . The first report card of its presence in the United States was in upstate New York State in 1996 . This pest has been on the move , eating genus Viburnum from upstate New York to northern Pennsylvania to western Maryland . It feeds only on genus Viburnum species .
According to the UMD file name extension , “ There is a high chance that genus Viburnum leaf beetle will spread out and become established throughout a wide realm in North America due to climatical similarities with its aboriginal home ground and the wide employment of genus Viburnum species in decorative plantings . However , recent studies indicate that its southern expansion may be limited by mild winters , as the orchis require a prolonged chilling period to dream up . The beetle spread naturally by flight , and by artificial means through people move infested glasshouse bloodline into non - infested areas . ”
Both adults and larvaeconsume aboriginal and exotic species of genus Viburnum in instinctive and deal landscape . Although they show a predilection for species with little hair’s-breadth ( puberty ) on the foliage , they hard damage many of the just about 150 do it species of genus Viburnum . Dr. Paul Weston of Cornell University categorize commonly grow viburnums into extremely susceptible ( first to be attack ; broadly destroy within 3 years ) , susceptible ( eventually destroyed ) , moderately susceptible ( usually not ruin ) , and insubordinate mintage ( niggling or no feeding damage ) . Both arrowwood and possumhaw are highly susceptible ; mapleleaf is susceptible ; nannyberry and blackhaw are moderately susceptible . Most species in all groups suffer more eating damage when grown in the shade . touch on to Dr. Weston ’s listfor information on other viburnums .
Although it does not seem that this cuss is currently damage viburnums in the Piedmont area , we should be aware of possible peril in the futurity . It ’s noteworthy that mood change and its effect on moderating wintertime temperature could impress the bed cover .
For reader who live in area where the viburnum leaf mallet is a problem , please see theCornell Universitysite for recommendations on ascendence . There is also encouraging news from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program about a decline in the universe of the beetle in Upstate New York .
source
Virginia Tech Dendrology , https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu / dendrology / syllabus / factsheet.cfm?ID=91
Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards , https://charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org / learn - about - trees / identify - trees/
Source also includesCommon Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia : Identification GuideVirginia Department of Forestry Paperback 2016
florescence : How Flowers Are Arranged on the Stem , The Seed Site , http://theseedsite.co.uk / inflorescences.html
“ Plants That Attract Butterflies , ” The Morton Arboretum , https://www.mortonarb.org / trees - plants / tree - and - plant - advice / horticulture - care / flora - attract - butterfly
Butterflies and Moths of North America , https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org / species / Celastrina - ladon
“ The Joy of Butterfly innkeeper Plants , ” Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden , https://www.lewisginter.org / butterfly stroke - innkeeper - plants/
“ Q. Which garden shrubs are dioecian , necessitating institute both a male and a female plant in order toget yield ? ” NYBG , http://libanswers.nybg.org / faq/222836
“ Plant Guide : Sun to Part Sun – Wet to Moist Soil , ” PennState Extension , https://extension.psu.edu / plant - guide - sun - to - part - sun - moisture - to - moist - land
“ Plant Guide : Sun to Part Sun – Dry to Moist Soil , ” PennState Extension , https://extension.psu.edu / plant - guide - sun - to - part - sunshine - juiceless - to - moist - stain
“ Classic Viburnums – A flora for All Seasons,”http://www.classicviburnums.com / index.cfm / fuseaction / home.showpage / pageID/23 / index.htm
Viburnums , Missouri Botanical Garden , https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / gardens - gardening / our - garden / far-famed - plant - compendium / viburnums.aspx
Viburnum Nudum , North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox , NC State Extension , https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu / industrial plant / genus Viburnum - nudum/
“ Native Viburnums and Cross - Pollination , What the Nursery Is n’t Telling You , ” EcogBlog with Kim Eierman , https://www.ecobeneficial.com/2018/12 / native - Viburnum - and - cross - pollination - what - the - nursery - isnt - tattle - you/
“ Possumhaw – April 2016 Wildflower of the Month , ” John Clayton Chapter , Virginia Native Plant Society , https://vnps.org / johnclayton/2025-03-23 / possumhaw - april-2016 - wild flower - of - the - month/
SelecTree : Tree Detail , Urban Forests Ecosystems Institute , California Polytechnic Institute , https://selectree.calpoly.edu / tree - detail / genus Viburnum - lentago
Exotic Pest Threats , Viburnum Leaf Beetle , University of Maryland Extension , https://www.extension.umd.edu › site › single file › _ docs › curriculum › ipmnet
Viburnum Leaf Beetle – susceptibleness to Infestation , Cornell University , Dr. Paul Weston , http://www.hort.cornell.edu / vlb / suscept.html
Featured Creatures – Viburnum Leaf Beetle , University of Florida , http://entnemdept.ufl.edu / creatures / orn / beetles / viburnum_leaf_beetle.htm
“ superintend Viburnum Leaf Beetles , ” Cornell University , Department of Horticulture , http://www.hort.cornell.edu / vlb / manage.html
Feature Photo : V. nudum(Possumhaw ) by JB Johnny , own work .
