Viburnum dentatum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num den-TAY-tum
- Description
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Arrowwood is a native deciduous shrub in the moschatel family (Adoxaceae). It is native to most of the eastern USA, along the coast to Texas. It is found along stream bands and moist woods in its native habitat. The genus is the Latin name of a European species plant. Specific epithet means toothed, referring to the toothed leaves. American Indians used the stems to create arrows which probably resulted the plant’s common name.
The plant tolerates a wide variety of soil and conditions, including shade with occasional drought or flooding. For best growth, plant in moist, well-drained soil and sun. While the growth habit is an upright oval, the older branches arch with age. Suckers also develop with age and are easy to transplant. Arrowwood can be 10 feet tall and wide. Propagation is by seeds or softwood cuttings. Pruning should be done after flowering. Rejuvenation pruning may be needed after extended growth. Next season’s blossoms appear on old growth. More than one genetic strain is needed to generate fruit.
The creamy-white flower clusters are large and showy in the spring. The bluish-black drupe maturing in late summer and early fall are also showy. The shrub is winter-hardy and valuable to wildlife. It provides nectar for pollinators, including native bees, food and shelter for birds, and is a larval host plant. Arrowwood is deer resistant.
Plant along a border, stream, pond or bog, in natural areas, and parking lots. Due to the vigorous and sturdy growth, use as a hedge, screen, specimen or in mass planting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious pests or diseases but the foliage can be damaged by viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) and whiteflies.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Pollinator Garden in Full Sun
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'CA Hildebrants'
Compact shrub to 4 ft. Good fall color - 'Chicago Luster'
10 ft tall, good fflowering with deep purple berries and good fall color - 'Christom'
Dwarf to 4 foot - 'Moonglow'
5-8 feet tall, rounded habit, gloosy leaves, domed white flowers - 'Morton'
Taller to 12 feet. More fruit. Burgundy fall color. - 'Patzam'
Upright to 6' tall and 4' wide - 'Perle Bleu'
10'-12' with round blue fruit - 'Ralph Senior'
Vase-shaped shrub with creamy flowers similar to Queen Anne's lace - 'Rick Webb form'
- 'Synnestvedt'
8'-10' tall and wide. Blooms later.
var. deamii ALL THAT GLITTERS® 'SMVDBL'
Smaller size with glossy leaves var. deamii ALL THAT GLOWS® ' SMVDBL'
Smaller shrub, glossy leaves - 'CA Hildebrants'
- 'CA Hildebrants', 'Chicago Luster', 'Christom', 'Moonglow', 'Morton', 'Patzam', 'Perle Bleu', 'Ralph Senior', 'Rick Webb form', 'Synnestvedt', var. deamii ALL THAT GLITTERS® 'SMVDBL', var. deamii ALL THAT GLOWS® ' SMVDBL'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'CA Hildebrants'
Compact shrub to 4 ft. Good fall color - 'Chicago Luster'
10 ft tall, good fflowering with deep purple berries and good fall color - 'Christom'
Dwarf to 4 foot - 'Moonglow'
5-8 feet tall, rounded habit, gloosy leaves, domed white flowers - 'Morton'
Taller to 12 feet. More fruit. Burgundy fall color. - 'Patzam'
Upright to 6' tall and 4' wide - 'Perle Bleu'
10'-12' with round blue fruit - 'Ralph Senior'
Vase-shaped shrub with creamy flowers similar to Queen Anne's lace - 'Rick Webb form'
- 'Synnestvedt'
8'-10' tall and wide. Blooms later.
var. deamii ALL THAT GLITTERS® 'SMVDBL'
Smaller size with glossy leaves var. deamii ALL THAT GLOWS® ' SMVDBL'
Smaller shrub, glossy leaves - 'CA Hildebrants'
- 'CA Hildebrants', 'Chicago Luster', 'Christom', 'Moonglow', 'Morton', 'Patzam', 'Perle Bleu', 'Ralph Senior', 'Rick Webb form', 'Synnestvedt', var. deamii ALL THAT GLITTERS® 'SMVDBL', var. deamii ALL THAT GLOWS® ' SMVDBL'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- dentatum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- As the common name suggests, the straight stems of this species were reportedly used for arrow shafts by Native Americans.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a potential host for the Spring Azure butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, grouse, wild turkeys and squirrels. Its twigs and leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire in the landscape. Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
- Edibility:
- Edible fruit
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is 1/4 inch blue-black drupes that are attractive to birds and wildlife. Displays from July to September
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blooms March-April with creamy-white flowers in flat-topped corymbs up to 4 inches across. Individual blooms are 1/4 inch across with 5 petals spreading to a bell-shape and extruded stamens with yellow anthers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are 2-4" long and 1½-3½" across. The upper side is yellow-green to dark green with sparse short hairs. The lower leaf surface is pale green with prominent veins and variably hairy. The margins are coarsely serrated. Fall color is variable from drab yellow to shades of orange and red.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray to grayish-brown with fissures showing the underlying reddish-brown tissue. The surface has warty protrusions.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in more than 2 scales
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are angled with ridges, sometimes downy when young and then hairless, becoming gray with fissures with age. Buds are green to brown with several scales.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Fire
