Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num ply-KAY-tum toh-men-TOH-sum
- Description
-
Doublefile viburnum is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub that is commonly found in the landscape. This shrub is native to China and Japan and grows 8 to 10 feet tall and as wide. It is multi-stemmed and has horizontal branching giving a layered appearance. The white flowers in spring are showy cymes followed by red to black fruit the birds love. Fall leaf color is red to purple. It grows well in sun to part shade and is adaptable to soil types. Prune as needed after flowering.
Showy blooms occur 'double-file', in axils of leaves with one on each side of a node on horizontal branches in late spring. The lace-capped flowerhead has showy sterile flowers that encircle non-showy inner fertile flowers. It is easily identified by its leaves which are ovate, pubescent, and appear pleated with serrate margins. The pleats are comprised of nearly straight, impressed veins.
Plant in moist well-drained soil with mulch around the roots to keep them cool and moist. Tolerates full sun to partial shade. Use as a hedge, as a foundation shrub, in the shrub border, or as a specimen. This shrub is easily transplanted.
Quick ID Hints:
- Opposite, ovate, pleated, pubescent, serrate, leaves
- Axillary, late spring blooms on each side of nodes
- lace-capped flowerhead with small fertile flowers that are ringed by showy sterile ones
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious insect or disease problems. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Mountain Ridge Top Garden - East Lawn and Lower Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Mariesii'
- 'Mariesii'
Distinctively layered horizontal branching. - 'Molly Schroeder'
- 'Nanum Semperflorens'
- 'Shasta'
Matures at 6-8 feet by 10-12 feet
'Summer Snowflake'
- 'Summer Stars'
- 'Watanabe'
Showy white flowers - 'Fireworks'
- 'Fireworks', 'Mariesii', 'Mariesii', 'Molly Schroeder', 'Nanum Semperflorens', 'Shasta', 'Summer Snowflake', 'Summer Stars', 'Watanabe'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Mariesii'
- 'Mariesii'
Distinctively layered horizontal branching. - 'Molly Schroeder'
- 'Nanum Semperflorens'
- 'Shasta'
Matures at 6-8 feet by 10-12 feet
'Summer Snowflake'
- 'Summer Stars'
- 'Watanabe'
Showy white flowers - 'Fireworks'
- 'Fireworks', 'Mariesii', 'Mariesii', 'Molly Schroeder', 'Nanum Semperflorens', 'Shasta', 'Summer Snowflake', 'Summer Stars', 'Watanabe'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- plicatum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies and fruit is a winter food source that attracts birds. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is an ovoid drupe, red to black.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Blooms are 2 to 4 inches wide, flat-topped, and appear in cymes with the outer florets being sterile and inner florets being fertile. They are held above foliage giving it a layered look. The blooms are white and fade to pink. They bloom in mid-spring and then sporadically through the summer months.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval dark green leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, pubescent, and have serrated margins. The fall color is reddish-purple. Fine hairs are on stems and leaf undersides.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Orange
- Bark Description:
- The bark is grayish-brown and smooth with orange lenticels.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are brown-dark gray with orange lenticels and are horizontal and overlapping, There are two branches per node, and the young branches are tomentose.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
