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Service Viburnum Viburnum utile

Phonetic Spelling
vih-BUR-num YOO-tih-lee
Description

Service Viburnum is a shrub from China that has an open form that is sometimes leggy. Plants are more compact with direct sunlight. It is evergreen in the southern part of its range and will grow 4-8 feet tall with a similar spread. Flowers are fragrant and showy and fruit set requires more than one shrub. It is tolerant of heat and a variety of soils and pH types. Has been used as a breeding parent for its glossy leaves and heat tolerance and is rarely used in the garden.

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:
'Conoy', 'Eskimo'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#white flowers#shrub#showy fruits#deer resistant#border planting#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Conoy', 'Eskimo'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#white flowers#shrub#showy fruits#deer resistant#border planting#bird friendly#partial shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viburnum
    Species:
    utile
    Family:
    Viburnaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China
    Wildlife Value:
    Mildly resistant to deer. Birds eat the berries.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    0.2 in. red to bluish-black drupe
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    2-3 inch cymes with pink buds opening to waxy tubular white flowers in abundance.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    2.5 by 1 inch leathery dark green leaves with a wavy appearance. Undersides are whitish with sparse star-shaped hairs. Winter color is purple-tinged.
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Grayish-brown bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer