David viburnum is a dependable low, compact, shrub with gorgeous leaves and attractive flowers and fruit for almost year-round interest. It tends to be evergreen but can be deciduous near the northern edge of its growing zones. Plant several male and female plants to get good cross-pollination and you will have a great winter fruit display that will be relished by songbirds. Makes an effective hedge or natural screen, can be planted in borders or along foundations. It prefers sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Plant to protect from summer leaf scorch by giving it some afternoon shade in hot areas. The plant does tolerate pruning, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms will appear on old growth. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Can suffer leaf scorch in hot summer locations. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information 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
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2-6 inch long oval thick leathery dark blue-green leaves are deeply veined laterally and have variable fall colors of dull crimson, orange-red or purple.
Fall color
Orange; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pink buds open creamy white on 2 to 3" clusters in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Green fruit turns iridescent pink to red then metallic blue and black on red stems and persists into winter.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems of drupes are red in fall
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Wildlife value
Fruit attracts birds as a winter food source. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer. Attracts butterflies