Page 50 - MNLGA Free State Winter 2025

GROWING WITH EDUCATION A Ginny Rosenkranz

Viburnums

offer color, fragrance, shapes and sizes

to fit any landscape

iburnums have so much to of soil types. The leaves are attached inches long and 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches
offer in the landscape; they opposite each other on the branches, wide, with a coarsely serrated margin.
Vthrive in full sun to partial have a rounded base with 3 lobes Autumn brings color to the leaves,
shade, and they offer year-round that are coarsely toothed, looking turning them yellow to glossy red
interest with early spring blooms, with very much like a Maple leaf. The color to reddish purple. The early spring
colorful fall berries that are a food is a dull to medium green with small flowers are best views from afar
source for wildlife. There is a wide black dots on the underside. Autumn due to the slightly pour fragrance,
range of sizes from 2-3 feet tall to 30 changes green leaves to reddish although there are some that have
feet tall and even though there are purple to magenta fall colors. The tiny no scent at all. Pure tiny ¼ inch white
numerous insect and disease pests ¼ inch tubular 5 petal, creamy white flowers have 5 petals that spread
known to feast on them, for the most fertile flowers are arranged on a 1–3- to a bell shape with stamens that
part they are pest free. The name inch diameter flat top panicles with have bright yellow anthers that give
Viburnum comes from the Latin for long stalks. The flowers mature to the overall appearance of a creamy
“Wayfaring tree”, because plants often create ¼ inch long berries that ripen white color. These lovely flowers are
grew along or close to pathways, to bluish-black by October and may arranged on a 2–4-inch flat topped
helping travelers from getting lost. stay on into the winter. corymbs, looking a lot like a lace cap
There are lots of viburnums that Viburnum dentatum, also called flower. Butterflies, native bees and
come from other parts of the world, Arrowood Viburnum, grows 6-10 feet other pollinators visit the flowers
but we also have some spectacular tall and wide. It is a rounded shrub when in bloom. The flowers mature
native viburnums. with spreading arching branches and into drupes that are rounded ovals
Viburum acerifolium or the Maple will, like a lot of our native plants, has ¼ inch long and colorful in blue or
Leaf Viburnum is a small, sparsely a tendence to colonize by sucker blackish blue in color. Arrowood
branched shrub that reaches only 3-6 growth. Plants thrive in full sun to part Viburnums can be found along the
feet tall, 2-4 feet wide with a strong shade with fibrous roots that grow east coast from the far north to Texas,
tendency to spread by suckers, in many soil types including moist in USDA zones 2-8, usually along
creating large thickets. This native to well drained and cold tolerant stream beds and in moist woodlands.
thrives from USDA zone 3-8 in the from 3-8. The glossy foliage is dark The foliage is enjoyed by the larva of
piedmont and mountains of Eastern green above and pale green on the the Spring Azure Butterfly, and the
North America. Plants grow best in underside, with prominent veins. The fruit is enjoyed by many songbirds,
full sun or part shade, enjoying acidic leaves are attached opposite each grouses, squirrels and wild turkeys.
moist loams but tolerate a wide range other along the stems and grow 2-4 Many birds also find shelter in the

50 WINTER 2025 • Free State News