Smooth Witherod, Possumhaw Viburnum
COMMON NAME | Smooth Witherod, Possumhaw Viburnum |
BOTANICAL NAME * | Viburnum nudum |
ZONE | 5 – 9 |
SIZE | 5’ – 12’ HT by 5’ – 12’ SP |
FOLIAGE | Medium green, glossy, lustrous leaves in summer. Fall foliage is red to reddish purple. Usually forms a well rounded shrub with full foliage. |
FLOWER | White, flat-top cyme. |
FRUIT | Fruit in 6 – 10” diameter cyme, aging from green to pink to deep purple. Sometimes there is purple fruit with reddish foliage in the fall. Berries are highly acidic, but edible. |
GROWING CONDITIONS | Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soil. Native to low woods, swamps and bogs in eastern and southeastern U.S. Full Sun to Part Shade. Plant this shrub in groups rather than as single specimens from best fruit display. Some recommend planting the cultivars V. nudum ‘Winterthur’ and V. nudum ‘Brandywine’ together for best fruiting. |
NOTES | Deer Resistant. Will tolerate wet conditions. |
FAVORITE CULTIVARS | Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’. Viburnum nudum ‘Brandywine’. These cultivars are difficult to tell apart. They are a bit more compact than the straight species, and are frequently planted together to improve fruit production. |
* A particular plant will have only 1 botanical name. Unfortunately, a particular plant may have several common names or it may share a common name with another plant. Whenever possible, use the botanical name.