Page 53 - MNLGA Free State Winter 2025

and cold tolerant in USDA zones zones 3-9. The trunk of the
5-9. Plants grow as a rounded, multi- tree is crooked, and the root
stemmed upright and spreading system is a branching woody
shrub, 5-12 feet tall and wide. This taproot. These plants are native
lovely native has lovely, fragrant tiny in eastern and central North
star shaped flowers that sit on a 2–5- America, from New York and
inch flat-toped clusters in spring. Connecticut to Illinois and
Pollinators, including butterflies, thrive south to Georgia and Texas.
on the nectar. Flowers mature into The foliage is host to Spring/
clusters of round berry like fruit that Summer Azure caterpillars
change color as they ripen, light pink while butterflies, bees and
to deep pink to blue then purplish other pollinator flock to the
black. Although the fruit is edible, it delightful fragrant flowers that
is highly acidic and can be used to are arranged in 4-5 clusters.
make jam. The acidity of the fruit does The flowers mature into edible
not seem to matter to the songbirds, 1/3 inch oval fruit that are a mix
grouse, wild turkeys, squirrels and of green, yellow, red-pink that Viburnum acerifolium
deer, which do not always wait mature to blue-black maple leaf viburnum
until the fruit at totally ripe. Deer that are edible raw or Photo: Ginny Rozenkranz
also enjoy the twigs and leaves. The turned into preserves
deciduous dark green leaves are or jam.
oblong-lanceolate with a smooth or Viburnum rufidulum,
entire margin up to 4 inches long. The or the rusty blackhaw
autumn colors sometimes turn deep viburnum, is native
pink and blue-purple. to the eastern and

Some of the lovely cultivars include southern states, from
‘Winterthur’, which reaches heights of Virginia to Florida and
6 feet, and although the flowers are west to Kansas and
listed are aromatic, the scent is nasty! Texas. This Viburnum
‘Brandywine’ is more compact than can become a multi-
Iburnum carlesii fl
the native, growing 5-6 feet tall, but its stemmed shrub or a
famous for the intense colors of the small single-stemmed
berries which ripen in vivid shades of tree. The plants can Columbia, south to New York and
pink and blue. grow 10-20 feet tall and wide and across to Michigan, South Dakota and

Viburnum prunifolium, also called prefer to grow in dry to moist loamy Oregon. Although native to swampy
the Blackhaw Viburnum, is either soils in full sun for best flowering to woods and bogs, the edges of lakes,
a small tree or a large native shrub partial shade. Like many other natives, pastures and thickets, slopes and
that grows 12-15 feet tall and 6-12 the prompt removal of root suckers low places, they also grow well in
feet wide, thriving in full sun to part is needed to prevent the plants from good, moist but well drained soils in
shade in average well drained soils, creating large colonies. full sun to shade. These deciduous
adaptable to many soil types and Viburnum trilobum var. americanum, shrubs can grow 8-12 feet tall and
soil acidity. Unlike most viburnums, or the American Cranberry Bush’s, wide with a dense spreading habit
once established it is very drought range is all across northern parts of and are cold tolerant in USDA zones 2
tolerant and is winter hardy in USDA America, New Brunswick to British to 7. The tiny fertile white star shaped
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Membership Matters • WINTER 2025 53