Downy Arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viburnum affine
- Viburnum affine var. hypomalacum
- Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. affine
- Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num raf-in-ess-KWI-an-um
- Description
-
Downy Arrowwood is an attractive shrub and one of the smallest native Viburnums growing 6-10 feet tall. It is common in forest understories and along woodland margins. In NC it is native to the piedmont area. It prefers dry conditions in sun to part shade in clay loam with some rocky material. It is drought tolerant once established. Downy Arrowwood is a heavy bloomer in May with showy flat-topped clusters of white blooms that are followed by purple berry-like drupes that attract wildlife.
Use this plant in shrub borders, foundations or in naturalized or woodland areas. The birds will love you for it.
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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- 'Louise's Sunbeam'
New growth is yellow
- 'Louise's Sunbeam'
- 'Louise's Sunbeam'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Louise's Sunbeam'
New growth is yellow
- 'Louise's Sunbeam'
- 'Louise's Sunbeam'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- rafinesqueanum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Narrow, straight stems that were used for making arrows by native Americans.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and Mid North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , NC , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: MB , ON
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a potential host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, grouse, wild turkeys and squirrels. Its twigs and leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4-1/2 inch compressed oval drupe that matures to blue-black in June to July.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flower clusters are borne at the tips of last year's branches and are 1.5-3 inches across. Creamy-white 1/4 inch flowers have 5 petals and extruded stamens with yellow tips.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Oval leaves simple, opposite and 1.5 to 3 inches long and 1-2 inches across. They are dark green to reddish-green with paler undersides and hairs along the veins. Apex is pointed, margins are coarsely toothed and the base is rounded with a pair of slender stipules. Fall color is reddish.
-
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- The short trunk or lower branches are gray and somewhat wrinkled, while upper branches are gray and more smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are light green to reddish-green, round, and slightly pubescent. Widely scattered white lenticels occur on the upper branches and shoots.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Drought
- Salt
