Bracted Viburnum is a hardy broadleaf deciduous shrub with an upright habit and spreading arching branches. It is not an easy specimen to locate and is often confused with Viburnum dentatum but has more leathery leaves. This plant is found in woodland areas of AL, GA and TN but is becoming rare due to limestone mining. In its natural habitat, it can be found growing in open woods and along rivers. The early summer flowers that form in 5" long cymes are showy but have an unpleasant odor. They are followed but a showy purple drupe that the birds will eat. A full sun location will provide the most blooms, which occur on old wood. Use this plant as a foundation shrub, in a shrub border, woodland setting, pollinator garden, cottage garden and to attract wildlife. Plant in well-drained clay or sandy loams. Tolerates poor soil, deer and rabbits. The cultivar 'Emerald Luster' was selected by Dr. Michael Dirr from the University of Georgia and may be available for purchase. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: This plant cannot tolerate wet soil. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Viburnum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Oval; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Orbicular; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-4" dark green leaves with bronze-yellow fall color. The underside of the leaves have hairs on the veins. Bases cordate or sub-cordate and margins with coarse teeth.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Creamy-white flowers on 5" flat-topped cyme with conspicuous bractlets. Individual flowers have 5 petals and 5 stamens tipped with yellow anthers. The flowers have an unpleasant odor.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Blue-purple fruit in late summer
Bark color
Dark Gray
Bark detail
Smooth gray bark
Stem detail
Thickly set stems that, over time, arch to form a rounded habit.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Southeast USA
Distribution
AL, GA, TN
Wildlife value
The fruit attracts birds. Butterflies and bees are attracted to the flowers.