Viburnum bracteatum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num brak-tee-AH-tum
- Description
-
Bracted Viburnum is a hardy broadleaf deciduous shrub with an upright habit and spreading arching branches. It is not an easy specimen to locate and is often confused with Viburnum dentatum but has more leathery leaves. This plant is found in woodland areas of AL, GA and TN but is becoming rare due to limestone mining. In its natural habitat, it can be found growing in open woods and along rivers.
The early summer flowers that form in 5" long cymes are showy but have an unpleasant odor. They are followed but a showy purple drupe that the birds will eat. A full sun location will provide the most blooms, which occur on old wood.
Use this plant as a foundation shrub, in a shrub border, woodland setting, pollinator garden, cottage garden and to attract wildlife. Plant in well-drained clay or sandy loams. Tolerates poor soil, deer and rabbits.
The cultivar 'Emerald Luster' was selected by Dr. Michael Dirr from the University of Georgia and may be available for purchase.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This plant cannot tolerate wet soil.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Emerale Luster'
Shiny dark leaves and lower branching.
- 'Emerale Luster'
- 'Emerale Luster'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Emerale Luster'
Shiny dark leaves and lower branching.
- 'Emerale Luster'
- 'Emerale Luster'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- bracteatum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast USA
- Distribution:
- AL, GA, TN
- Wildlife Value:
- The fruit attracts birds. Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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)
- Sand
- 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:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Blue-purple fruit in late summer
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Creamy-white flowers on 5" flat-topped cyme with conspicuous bractlets. Individual flowers have 5 petals and 5 stamens tipped with yellow anthers. The flowers have an unpleasant odor.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4" dark green leaves with bronze-yellow fall color. The underside of the leaves have hairs on the veins. Bases cordate or sub-cordate and margins with coarse teeth.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Thickly set stems that, over time, arch to form a rounded habit.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
