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Viburnum lantana

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
vih-BUR-num lahn-TAHN-ah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Wayfaringtree Viburnum is a non-native suckering shrub with a vigorous and dense growth habit making it useful as a hedge. Stems are upright and spreading giving it a rounded shape. Prune out old stems to renew growth. More than 1 shrub is needed in close proximity to obtain a reliable fruit set.

Plant in average well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. It adapts well to drier conditions. Basal suckering allows the shrub to spread aggressively so planting a less aggressive native viburnum is recommended. See recommendations to the left.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant 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:
  • Aureum
  • Emerald Triumph
  • 'Mohican'
    Compact shrub 7-8 feet tall
Aureum, Emerald Triumph, 'Mohican'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#aggressive#deer resistant#red fruits#suckers#partial shade tolerant#dense growth#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Aureum
  • Emerald Triumph
  • 'Mohican'
    Compact shrub 7-8 feet tall
Aureum, Emerald Triumph, 'Mohican'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#aggressive#deer resistant#red fruits#suckers#partial shade tolerant#dense growth#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viburnum
    Species:
    lantana
    Family:
    Viburnaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eurasia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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 pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is green changing to red, red-orange, or red-yellow by mid-Summer, then maturing to black in late August and early September, in flat-topped clusters.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    3-5 inch wide flat-topped cymes with creamy white blooms. Individual flowers have 5 petals and 5 stamens. The filaments are whitish with yellow anthers. Flower stems have fine white hairs. Bloom time is May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are leathery, dull dark green to blue-green, 2 to 5 in. long, tomentose on the undersides and purplish-red fall color. Veins are sunken on the upper side and prominent on the undersides giving it a quilted appearance. The base is cordate to rounded and the apex is acute and pointed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    The bark is initially smooth and gray with visible lenticels, becoming somewhat ripply and then scaly with age.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Hairy
    Stem Bud Scales:
    No scales, covered in hair
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Twigs are gray-brown with fine hair and leaf buds are without scales.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Compaction
    Deer
    Drought
    Problems:
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Stomach upset and possibly diarrhea with eating large quantities of unripe fruit.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    unknown
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits