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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Amelanchier canadensis Amelanchier canadensis
Quercus lyrata Form (Pitt County, NC)-Late Fall
Ulmus alata Ulmus alata
Viburnum lantanoides has some other problems:
Purple Mite

Hobblebush Viburnum lantanoides

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Viburnum alnifolium
  • Viburnum grandifolium
  • Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides
Phonetic Spelling
vih-BUR-num al-nih-FOH-lee-um
Description

Hobblebush is a native viburnum shrub that grows south to zone 6 with an open, sometimes straggly habit. The pendulous stems that touch the ground develop roots that can trip or hobble a walker- hence the common name. It is found in the mountains of NC.

Hobblebush prefers moist, rich woods, stream banks and swamps and moist, gravelly or sandy, acid loams. Hobblebush will develop thickets in its native habitat.  This shrub would best be used in naturalized settings.

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:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#native shrub#lacy leaves#fall interest#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant#heart-shaped leaves#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Native habitat
Native habitat thirteenfalls CC BY-NC 4.0
Flowers
Flowers Bev Norton CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Viburnum lantanoides
Leaf and Flower (Great Smokey Mountains,NC) Stacy Hodes CC BY 4.0
Leaves and fruit
Leaves and fruit Jenn Megyesi CC BY-NC 4.0
Leaves
Leaves Homer Edward Price CC BY 4.0
Underside of leaf
Underside of leaf Astro CC BY-NC 4.0
Fall color
Fall color Susan Elliott CC BY-NC 4.0
Stem with lenticels
Stem with lenticels Astro CC BY-NC 4.0
Viburnum lantanoides
Flowers Jomegat CC BY-SA 3.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#native shrub#lacy leaves#fall interest#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#native garden#pollinator plant#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant#heart-shaped leaves#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viburnum
    Species:
    lantanoides
    Family:
    Viburnaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The Algonquin reportedly rubbed its mashed leaves on the head to treat migraines. Iroquois are said to have used a decoction of roots as a blood medicine. The plant was also used to treat chest and breathing problems.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    CT , GA , MA , MD , ME , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Larval host for the Spring Azure. Gamebirds, songbirds and mammals eat fruit, browsers eat twigs and leaves
    Edibility:
    Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Cascading
    Open
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1/3 inch long red drupes maturing to purple in late summer.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    3 to 5 in. flat cyme of white flowers with a lacy effect in early summer. The individual flowers on the outer edge of each cluster are much larger than those in the middle. The smaller center blooms are fertile.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4-8 inch long slightly heart-shaped leaves are opposite, simple, broad-ovate, in widely spaced pairs, irregularly serrate, tip short acuminate, base cordate, stellate pubescence on both sides, eventually becoming glabrous, but may retain hairs on the veins below. Nice fall color of bronze-red to purple.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    The bark is initially gray-brown and warty, later splitting into shallow ridges and furrows.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Hairy
    Stem Description:
    Brownish-green stems with light lenticels. The opposite buds are naked and covered with tan, scruffy pubescent that extends down the twig. Pendulous branches often fall over and root where they touch the ground.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer