Wayfaringtree Viburnum Viburnum lantana
- 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
- Aureum, Emerald Triumph, 'Mohican'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Aureum
- Emerald Triumph
- 'Mohican'
Compact shrub 7-8 feet tall
- Aureum
- Aureum, Emerald Triumph, 'Mohican'
- Tags:
-
-
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
