Viburnum acerifolium
mapleleaf viburnum
Overview
Viburnum acerifolium is a deciduous understory shrub reaching 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) tall and 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 m) wide, with an open, upright, loosely branched form and slender stems. The leaves resemble those of maples: opposite, three-lobed, 2-5 inches (5-12 cm) long, with toothed margins and soft hairs beneath. Summer foliage is dull green and turns shades of pink, rose, and pale purple in fall, an uncommon range among shrubs. Flat clusters of small creamy-white flowers 1.5-3 inches (4-7.5 cm) across open in late spring at the branch tips. The flowers give way to flattened oval berries that ripen from red to blue-black in early fall and are eaten by birds. The shrub spreads slowly by root suckers into loose colonies in the forest understory. It tolerates dry shade better than many shrubs but blooms and fruits sparingly in deep shade. Growth is slow, and plants are long-lived once established in suitable woodland soil.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and west to Minnesota and eastern Texas. Grows as an understory shrub in dry to moist deciduous and mixed woods, often on rocky or sandy slopes and shaded ravines.Suggested Uses
Planted in shade and woodland gardens, native-plant borders, and naturalistic understory plantings at 3-5 foot (0.9-1.5 m) spacing. Its tolerance of dry shade suits it to areas beneath established trees. The suckering habit forms loose colonies rather than a single tidy specimen.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Bloom Information
Flowers in late spring, May to June, with flat clusters of small creamy-white flowers. The flowers are insect-pollinated over about two weeks. Fruit ripens from red to blue-black in late summer and early fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in partial to full shade on dry to moist, well-drained, slightly acidic woodland soils. It tolerates dry shade and root competition better than many shrubs but flowers and fruits more in light shade than in deep shade. It spreads slowly by suckers into open colonies and needs little care once established. Leaf spot and viburnum diseases occur but are seldom serious in shaded sites. Growth is slow, so plants take several years to reach full size.Pruning
Little pruning is needed because of the slow, open growth. Spent stems and root suckers are removed in late winter to shape the colony. Cutting back hard is tolerated but slow to regrow given the modest growth rate.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter