Etymology
Viburnum comes from the Latin after V. lantana, meaning wayfaring tree, and acerifolium is Latin for maple-leafed.
Native Habitat
Moist to dry woodlands. Prefers part sun/shade or full shade and loamy, organic, acidic soil but will tolerate most soil types.
Garden Uses
Good choice for areas of dry soil and deep shade. Tolerates black walnut toxicity. Use for massing, mixed border, screen, woodland understory.
Overview
Low, densely branched understory shrub, 4-6 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide. Suckers profusely to form large open colonies in moderately moist to dry woodlands. Prefers part sun/shade or full shade and loamy, organic, acidic soil but will tolerate most soil types. Good choice for areas of dry soil and deep shade. Tolerates black walnut toxicity.
Leaves and Stems
Multi-stemmed, round thicket forming shrub. The deciduous leaves are opposite and simple 5” long bright- to dark-green, maple-like in shape, coarsely toothed and generally 3-lobed. Distinctive autumn foliage varies from yellow to pink to red to purple. The bark is smooth grayish brown.
Flowers
Flat-topped to slightly domed clusters of 5-petaled small creamy white flowers uniform in size 1-1/2 to 3 inches across appear in late spring.
Fruit/Seed
Berries (drupes) turning from red to blue-black with a single stone.
Animal Associates
Larval host for Celastrina ladon (Spring Azure butterfly). Butterflies, bees and other insects drink the nectar; birds and mammals eat the berries. Mammals eat the leaves, twigs, and bark. Provide good nesting and escape cover for birds and small mammals. Susceptible to Viburnum Leaf Beetle.
Propagation
By seed, which needs to be stratified or soft wood cuttings. Self-propagates by suckering.
Garden Location
Performance Hall Garden (see garden map)
Sources
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Project
Plant Profile by Kathy Kling