Small Leaf Arrowwood Viburnum obovatum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num ob-oh-VAY-tum
- Description
-
Walter's Viburnum is a shrub native to the southeast US that is densely twiggy and upright ascending. While it is not found naturally in North Carolina, it can easily grow in southern Piedmont and coastal areas of the state. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen with a dense rounded form. Its native habitat is the coastal plains in hammocks, thickets, and swamp margins. This plant is slightly salt tolerant. Even though its native range is zones 8-9, it will grow in zones 7-10.
The small leaves add varying amounts of purple color in fall and remain semi-evergreen to evergreen in warm winter climates. Tiny, white, 5-petaled flowers in dome-shaped clusters bloom in early spring. Oval blue-black fruits follow and mature in fall.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, moist, well-drained soils, the plant appreciating some afternoon shade. Grow along ponds or bogs in sunny or woodland sites.
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:
-
- 'Christmas Snow'
- ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’
4-5 feet tall - 'Seneca'
- 'Whorled Class'
Dwarf form 'Raulston Hardy'
Dwarf form with tight, hedge-friendly growth - 'Christmas Snow'
- 'Christmas Snow', ‘Mrs. Schiller’s Delight’, 'Raulston Hardy', ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’, 'Seneca', 'Whorled Class'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Christmas Snow'
- ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’
4-5 feet tall - 'Seneca'
- 'Whorled Class'
Dwarf form 'Raulston Hardy'
Dwarf form with tight, hedge-friendly growth - 'Christmas Snow'
- 'Christmas Snow', ‘Mrs. Schiller’s Delight’, 'Raulston Hardy', ‘Reifler’s Dwarf’, 'Seneca', 'Whorled Class'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- obovatum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, SC
- Wildlife Value:
- Early food source for bees. Birds and other wildlife eat the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 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
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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:
- Spring
- 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 early spring.
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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:
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
- Salt
