Raulston's Hardy Viburnum Viburnum obovatum 'Raulston Hardy'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viburnum obovatum 'Raulston's Hardy'
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num ob-oh-VAY-tum
- Description
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'Raulston Hardy' is a dwarf viburnum cultivar introduced by the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. Developed from the US-native Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum), it is smaller, denser, and hardier than the species, forming a tight bush useful for landscaping. Its form lends itself as an alternative for boxwood species with the added bonus of white April-blooming flowers and black fruits loved by birds. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, taking on some purple color in colder weather, though may become deciduous closer to zone 6.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, moist, acidic, well-drained soils. It is tolerant of both dry and wet soils, cold and drought, heat and humidity, and even salt and browsing by herbivores. Its small size lends itself to many landscape uses such as hedges, foundation plantings, containers, and even specimen plants.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious 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:
- obovatum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Early food source for bees. Birds and other wildlife eat the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch red to shiny black drupes in fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1.75-2.25 inch dome-shaped clusters of small white flowers open in early spring. May start blooming sporadically in the fall and winter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves at 1 to 2 inches long and 1/3 to 1.25 inches wide. They are often a lustrous dark green in summer with a varying amount of purple fall color. They are evergreen during warm winters and semi-evergreen to deciduous in cold winter. Margins are entire to slightly toothed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish-brown stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Wet Soil
