Smooth Witherod is a native deciduous shrub growing in savannas, low, wet woods and bogs and may reach 12 feet tall and wide. It prefers sun to part shade in acidic, moist, well-drained soils but can be adaptable. The opposite wavy-edged leaves are nicer leaves than some viburnums with good fall color. The blooms are showy and fragrant in flat-topped clusters and give way to showy berries of various colors. Berry production is best if more than one shrub is planted. The bark is smooth and gray-brown with a few raised warty lenticels. Plant in acidic moist to occasionally wet sites in full sun to partial shade along ponds, streams and bogs and in water or rain gardens Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. 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)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
4 inch long glossy dark green leaves. Fall color is sometimes reddish-purple.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flat-topped clusters of creamy white blooms appear in April-May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue; Green; Pink
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit detail
Light pink to deep pink to blue to purplish-black fruits appear in fall. The clusters will have all colors appearing at the same time. They are acidic but edible. Display from August to October.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Smooth grey-brown bark with a few warty lenticels.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Slender, reddish-brown, shiny stems. Buds are valvate, slender and up to 1/2 inch long, scruffy pinkish brown
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
It is a potential host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly and hummingbird clearwing moths. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, grouse, wild turkeys and squirrel. Its twigs and leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Ripe drupes can be used in jams.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Pond; Riparian
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Screen/Privacy