Viburnum lantana
Wayfaring tree
Overview
Viburnum lantana is a deciduous shrub in the moschatel family, growing 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) tall and nearly as wide, with a dense, upright to rounded, multi-stemmed form. The opposite leaves are broadly oval, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long, deeply veined and wrinkled on top, with toothed margins and a grey, felted underside. Young stems are coated in the same grey down. In late spring, flat-topped clusters 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) wide carry many small, creamy-white, fertile flowers, all of similar size. The flowers are followed by flattened oval fruits that ripen unevenly, passing from green through red to black, so red and black drupes often appear in the same cluster. Autumn foliage turns dull red to purple. The shrub tolerates dry, alkaline, and chalky soils and withstands wind and cold. It self-sows where birds drop the seed and has naturalised in parts of eastern North America, where it can crowd out native shrubs. Fruit is mildly toxic to people if eaten raw.
Native Range
Native to central and southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, where it grows in hedgerows, scrub, woodland edges, and on chalk and limestone soils. It has naturalised in parts of eastern North America.Suggested Uses
Grown as a screen, informal hedge, or shrub border plant in exposed, dry, or chalky sites where many shrubs struggle. It suits wildlife plantings, the flowers drawing pollinators and the fruit feeding birds. In regions where it has naturalised, it is kept away from natural areas to limit its spread.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 15'
Width/Spread10' - 15'
Bloom Information
Creamy-white flowers open in late spring, usually May, in dense flat-topped clusters of equal-sized fertile blooms. The display lasts about two weeks. Fruit forms over summer, ripening unevenly from green to red to black.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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