Chesapeake Viburnum Viburnum x carlcephalum 'Chesapeake'
Other Common Name(s):
- Description
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Introduced in 1962 by Donald Egolf of the US National Arboretum, ‘Chesapeake’ is a cultivar of the hybrid cross of the medium size deciduous shrub fragrant snowball. This plant is in the Viburnaceae (viburnum) family.
Its numerous tiny flowers form an attractive snowball on this plant. They begin in the spring as pink buds that will open to lightly fragrant white flowers.
The leathery dark green foliage lasts well into the fall months, making this plant semi-evergreen.
Pruning should be completed soon after flowering, as flower buds for the next year form in the summer of the current year. If pruning is done at that time, the plant will not produce fruits in the fall.
Its habit is low growing, it will grow wider than tall, making it a great choice for planting under power lines.
To produce fruits, this plant needs a different plant of the same species nearby.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues. Bacterial leaf spot and powdery mildew can occur.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and disease.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Use as an accent or plant multiple to form a border.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds feast on the fruits while bees and butterflies visit the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dull red berries turn black when mature.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Pink buds will open in the spring to form white flowers. The flowers have a light fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The wavy edged leaves are dark grey-green. The fall will bring on a burgundy display.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Multi-stemmed
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wind
