Viburnum rufidulum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num roo-FEE-duh-lum
- Description
-
Rusty Blackhaw is a shrub or small tree that may grow 20 feet tall. The leaves are opposite with a finely toothed margin and rusty hairs on the underside. The bark is gray-brown with a fine blocky pattern. Clusters of small, white flowers mature in early spring. The small tree produces a blue drupe that matures in fall.
Three season interest is provided with showy spring flowers, glossy green leaves in summer and fall fruit and leaf colors. More than one shrub is needed for good berry production. It is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
More than one genetic strain needed for fruit set.
Habitat: Dry woodlands, dry-mesic woodlands and forests, especially common over mafic rocks (but not at all restricted to such sites)
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Royal Guard'
- 'Royal Guard'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Royal Guard'
- 'Royal Guard'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- rufidulum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern U.S.A., Mexico
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MO , MS , NC , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a host plant for the spring/summer Azure butterflies. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, squirrels and chipmunks.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape. Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 3/8 inch long edible dark blue fruits appear after flowering and ripen from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- 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:
- Flowers appear from March to April in 5 inch wide rounded cymes of tiny flowers. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch across with long stamens.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The 4" long glossy, leathery leaves are dark green. Its leaf undersides are covered with rusty brown hairs. Excellent fall hues of red, lavender, pink, and orange.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Square
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray/brown with a fine blocky pattern.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs reddish brown with a thin light gray coating. Stems have rusty brown hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Fire
