Arrowwood viburnum adds seasonal interest with plenty of wildlife perks. Here's how to add this hardy shrub to your backyard garden.
How to Grow an Arrowwood Viburnum Shrub
Arrowwood Viburnum Care
- Common name: Arrowwood viburnum
- Scientific name: Viburnum dentatum spp.
- Growing zones: 2 to 8
- Soil needs: Prefers moist, well-draining soil
- Light needs: Part to full sun
- Size: Up to 10 feet tall and wide, but some cultivars, such as ‘All That Glitters’, are far more compact.
- Foliage: A glossy green turns to gold, orange or red in fall, depending on the cultivar.
- Host plant: Spring azure butterflies and hummingbird moths lay eggs on this plant.
- Attracts: Birds, bees, and butterflies
This low-maintenance and versatile native shrub packs a beneficial punch in the garden. Arrowwood viburnum is found throughout most of the eastern United States.
Where to Plant Arrowwood Viburnum
Tolerant of a variety of soils but growing best in moist, well-draining locations, this shrub prefers a sunny spot and can grow up to 10 feet tall and wide.
Arrowwood viburnum is known for steady growth, so gardeners should plant it in an area where it won’t be crowded — or where it won’t crowd out other beneficial plants. Many gardeners enjoy the white flowers in spring. Blue-black berries appear in fall.
Grow brandywine viburnum for tie-dye berry clusters.
Arrowwood Viburnum Wildlife Benefits
As mentioned above, many gardeners appreciate this shrub’s spring flowers and fall interest. Bright white flower clusters attract pollinators in late spring and turn into blue drupes from summer to fall. Some cultivars have different characteristics, such as height or autumn color.
Many backyard critters and birds, such as turkeys and grouse, eat the berries. Arrowwood’s dense
branching and suckers that can form thickets create year-round cover for birds.
The name “arrowwood” refers to the plant’s use by Native American tribes, who fashioned its stems into arrow shafts.
Pests and Diseases
While it doesn’t boast any notable disease problems, deer might munch on the leaves (although the shrub is largely deer-resistant).
Next, learn how to grow Korean Spice viburnum shrubs.
Sources
- North Carolina State Extension, “Viburnum dentatum“
