Common Name: lantanaphyllum viburnum
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Adoxaceae
Native Range: Eurasia, China
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Hedge
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Erosion
Culture
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prune as needed immediately after flowering because flower buds form in summer for the following year. Best fruit set occurs with cross pollination from parents or clones of the within hybrid.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum × rhytidophylloides is a hybrid viburnum (a cross between V. rhytidophyllum and V. lantana). It is a multi-stemmed, upright-arching shrub that typically matures to 8-10’ tall (sometimes more) and as wide. Shrubs are semi-evergreen (retain some green leaves in winter) in the southern parts of the growing range, but are basically deciduous in the northern parts of the growing range. Mature plants grow large and somewhat coarse. Leathery, thick, wrinkled, ovate-oblong, dark green leaves (to 4-8” long) are light green beneath. Flat cymes (to 4” across) of creamy white flowers bloom in spring (May in St. Louis). Flowers have a somewhat unpleasant fragrance. Spring flowers give way to berries (drupes) which first appear green, then bright red before finally maturing to glossy black by September. Fruit set may be poor in some years. Michael Dirr reports that the leaves of this hybrid differ from the very similar Viburnum rhytidophyllum by being less broad, less rugose, less elongated and less green but slightly broader.
Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Plant in groups or mix with other broadleaf shrubs. Shrub borders. May be grown as a screen or hedge. Shrub also has good specimen value due to creamy white flowers, summer/fall fruit and semi-evergreen foliage.