Swamp Haw Viburnum cassinoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num kass-ih-NOY-deez
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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)
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Smooth, gray-brown bark dotted with lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are brown and rough.
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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
