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Viburnum cassinoides is often confused with:
Viburnum nudum Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer pensylvanicum Form
Amelanchier arborea Form in the spring, flowers appear before the leaves.
Aronia arbutifolia Aronia arbutifolia

Viburnum cassinoides

Phonetic Spelling
vih-BUR-num kass-ih-NOY-deez
Description

Blue Haw Viburnum is a multi-stemmed deciduous native shrub with a dense rounded habit and arching stems. It typically grows to a height and width of 5'-6' sometimes reaching as tall as 12'. It is found in Eastern USA and Canada and in the mountains of NC. Its native habitat is bogs, moist high elevation forests, outcrops, and along streams or ponds. The spring blooms are showy flat-topped clusters of creamy white, while the fall color is variable and showy and the fruits change colors throughout the fall into winter for additional interest.

Blue Haw Viburnum needs average to wet well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It will adapt to drier sites once established.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.  Aphids, borers, nematodes, scale, and thrips can occasionally cause issues.  Leaf spot, anthracnose, and powdery mildew are occasional disease problems.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#deciduous shrub#native shrub#low maintenance#winter interest#fall interest#pond margins#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#native garden#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#fall color purple#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#boggy sites#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#deciduous shrub#native shrub#low maintenance#winter interest#fall interest#pond margins#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#native garden#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source soft mast fruit#fall color red#fall color purple#partial shade tolerant#Audubon#boggy sites#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viburnum
    Species:
    cassinoides
    Family:
    Viburnaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Cherokee used the plant for medicinal purposes
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds and mammals are attracted to the berries. Mildly resistant to deer.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Green
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Small green fruit turns iridescent pink to red then blue and black sometimes with different colored fruits in the same cluster. On display from August through winter.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Trumpet
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Creamy white flowers with yellow stamens from May to June on 2"-5" cymes. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch wide.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Oval leaves are dull dark green and 1.5 to 3.5 inches long. New growth is bronze to purple-tinged. The tip is acute or bluntly pointed, base rounded or wedge-shaped, margin irregularly toothed. Fall color is crimson, purple or orange-red and showy.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    Smooth, gray-brown bark dotted with lenticels.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are brown and rough.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Wet Soil