Chinese Evergreen Viburnum Viburnum propinquum
- Phonetic Spelling
- vy-BUR-num prop-IN-kwum
- Description
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Chinese Evergreen Viburnum is an evergreen shrub native to the forested areas of China and the Philippines with a compact rounded habit growing 4-8 feet tall and wide. It has shiny leathery leaves and somewhat showy clusters of greenish-white flowers but it shows off in the fall and winter with its burgundy leaves and blue-black fruits. The fruits attract songbirds. It may be semievergreen in the northernmost part of its growing range.
Plant in average, moist, well-drained acidic soils in full sun to partial shade. in hot summer climates, it will appreciate some afternoon shade. Use as a hedge, foundation plant or in the shrub border.
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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- propinquum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds enjoy the fruits.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Glossy egg-shaped drupes turn blue-black in the fall and persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Greenish white flowers appear late spring on 2-3 inch wide umbel-like cymes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3.5 inch long and .75-1.25 inches wide deep green leathery glossy elliptic to oblanceolate 3 veined leaves. Base is wedge-shaped or rounded, pointed tips, shallowly and sparsely toothed. Burgundy fall and winter color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- New growth is shiny red-brown with conspicuous lenticels turning gray after the first year.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
