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Viburnum x rhytidophylloides

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
vih-BUR-num ry-ti-do-fil-oy-deez
Description

This semi-evergreen, broadleaved ornamental shrub has slightly arching branches.  In its youth its habit is erect, but with age, it will becomes more mounded and spreading and grows 8-10 feet tall and wide. It is a hybrid of V. rhytidophyllum and V. lantana and forms suckers with age. Flower buds form in the summer so pruning should be completed soon after flowing. The leathery wrinkled leaves are dark green with lighter undersides. The 4 inch clusters of flowers appear in spring and may have an unpleasant fragrance. They are followed by drupes that mature from red to black. A mixture of cross-pollinating shrubs from one or both parents are needed for good fruit production.

Use this shrub in full sun to partial shade as a hedge, in a shrub border, or as a specimen.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No major issues.  May occasionally be affected by leaf spot.  

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:
  • 'Allegheny'
  • 'Interduke'
'Allegheny', 'Interduke'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#semi-evergreen#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#deer resistant#cream flowers#leathery leaves#dry soils tolerant#malodorous#partial shade tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Allegheny'
  • 'Interduke'
'Allegheny', 'Interduke'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#semi-evergreen#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#deer resistant#cream flowers#leathery leaves#dry soils tolerant#malodorous#partial shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viburnum
    Family:
    Viburnaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Euraisa, China
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts birds and butterflies
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    mildly resistant to deer damage, range of soil types
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Mounding
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Glossy drupes turn from green to red and then black in the fall. Fruits can be abundant, or sparse and non-existent due to the need for a mixture of cross-pollinating shrubs from one or both parents.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    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:
    This plant has creamy white flowers on 3 to 4 in. flat-topped cyme in late April to early May. The fragrance may not be desirable. Not as showy as other viburnums.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    This plant has opposite, simple, leathery, and dark green leaves which are 4 to 8 in. long, light green below, and hold late into fall. The veins are prominent on the undersides with a reticulate branching pattern. Entire to sparsely serrated margins. Winter foliage may become windburned and browned.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Bark Description:
    Bark is light gray.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Orange
    White
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Smooth/Hairless
    Stem Bud Terminal:
    Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The multi-stemmed stems emerge green-white, changing to an orange-brown by winter.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Patio
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Problems:
    Malodorous