Arrowwood is a native deciduous shrub in the viburnum family (Viburnaceae). It is native to most of the eastern USA, along the coast to Texas. It is found along stream bands and moist woods in its native habitat. Specific epithet means "toothed," referring to the toothed leaves. American Indians used the stems to create arrows, which probably resulted the plant’s common name. The plant tolerates a wide variety of soil and conditions, including shade with occasional drought or flooding. For best growth, plant in moist, well-drained soil and sun. While the growth habit is an upright oval, the older branches arch with age. Suckers also develop with age and are easy to transplant. Arrowwood can be 10 feet tall and wide. Propagation is by seeds or softwood cuttings. Pruning should be done after flowering. Rejuvenation pruning may be needed after extended growth. Next season’s blossoms appear on old growth. More than one genetic strain is needed to generate fruit. The creamy-white flower clusters are large and showy in the spring. The bluish-black drupe maturing in late summer and early fall are also showy. The shrub is winter-hardy and valuable to wildlife. It provides nectar for pollinators, including native bees, food and shelter for birds, and is a larval host plant. Arrowwood is deer-resistant. Plant along a border, stream, pond or bog, in natural areas, and parking lots. Due to the vigorous and sturdy growth, use as a hedge, screen, specimen or in mass planting. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious pests or diseases but the foliage can be damaged by viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) and whiteflies. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet 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; Shallow Rocky
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: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are 2-4" long and 1½-3½" across. The upper side is yellow-green to dark green with sparse short hairs. The lower leaf surface is pale green with prominent veins and variably hairy. The margins are coarsely serrated. Fall color is variable from drab yellow to shades of orange and red.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Blooms March-April with creamy-white flowers in flat-topped corymbs up to 4 inches across. Individual blooms are 1/4 inch across with 5 petals spreading to a bell-shape and extruded stamens with yellow anthers.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is 1/4 inch blue-black drupes that are attractive to birds and wildlife. Displays from July to September
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark is gray to grayish-brown with fissures showing the underlying reddish-brown tissue. The surface has warty protrusions.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Twigs are angled with ridges, sometimes downy when young and then hairless, becoming gray with fissures with age. Buds are green to brown with several scales.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
It is a potential host for the Spring Azure butterfly. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, grouse, wild turkeys and squirrels. Its twigs and leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Edible fruit
Uses (ethnobotany)
As the common name suggests, the straight stems of this species were reportedly used for arrow shafts by Native Americans.