Doublefile viburnum is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub that is commonly found in the landscape. This shrub is native to China and Japan and grows 8 to 10 feet tall and as wide. It is multi-stemmed and has horizontal branching giving a layered appearance. The white flowers in spring are showy cymes followed by red to black fruit the birds love. Fall leaf color is red to purple. It grows well in sun to part shade and is adaptable to soil types. Prune as needed after flowering. Next season's blossoms will appear on new growth. Showy blooms occur 'double-file', in axils of leaves with one on each side of a node on horizontal branches in late spring. The lace-capped flowerhead has showy sterile flowers that encircle non-showy inner fertile flowers. It is easily identified by its leaves which are ovate, pubescent, and appear pleated with serrate margins. The pleats are comprised of nearly straight, impressed veins. Plant in moist well-drained soil with mulch around the roots to keep them cool and moist. Tolerates full sun to partial shade. Use as a hedge, as a foundation shrub, in the shrub border, or as a specimen. This shrub is easily transplanted. Quick ID Hints: Opposite, ovate, pleated, pubescent, serrate, leaves Axillary, late spring blooms on each side of nodes lace-capped flowerhead with small fertile flowers that are ringed by showy sterile ones Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: There are no serious insect or disease problems. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Viburnum plicatum .
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.
Often confused withHydrangea petiolarisViburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Summer Snowflake'
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
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Oval dark green leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, pubescent, and have serrated margins. The fall color is reddish-purple. Fine hairs are on stems and leaf undersides.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Blooms are 2 to 4 inches wide, flat-topped, and appear in cymes with the outer florets being sterile and inner florets being fertile. They are held above foliage giving it a layered look. The blooms are white and fade to pink. They bloom in mid-spring and then sporadically through the summer months.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is an ovoid drupe, red to black.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Orange
Bark detail
The bark is grayish-brown and smooth with orange lenticels.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Stems are brown-dark gray with orange lenticels and are horizontal and overlapping, There are two branches per node, and the young branches are tomentose.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China and Japan
Wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies and fruit is a winter food source that attracts birds. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
Attracts
Butterflies; Songbirds
Play value
Colorful; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen