Viburnum rhytidophyllum, leatherleaf viburnum
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Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs

Viburnum rhytidophyllum

leatherleaf viburnum

Adoxaceae

Central and western China — Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou provinces

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitUpright
FoliageEvergreen
Height8-15 feet (2.4-4.5 m)
Width8-12 feet (2.4-3.6 m)
Maturity10 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 8
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Maintenancelow

Overview

A large, upright to spreading evergreen shrub reaching 8-15 feet (2.4-4.5 m) tall and 8-12 feet (2.4-3.6 m) wide. Leaves are among the largest in the genus, 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long and 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) wide, oblong-elliptic, thick, and leathery, with a deeply wrinkled (rugose) upper surface and dense tan to gray-brown tomentum (woolly coating) on the underside. Leaf margins are entire and slightly revolute. Flower buds form in fall and persist through winter as tan, fuzzy clusters at stem terminals. Creamy-white flowers open in flat-topped cymes 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) across from April through May. Fruits are ovoid drupes approximately 0.3 inches (8 mm) long, transitioning from red to glossy black on the same cluster, creating a bicolored effect from September through November. Growth rate is moderate to fast, adding 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) per year. Plants reach mature size in 6-10 years. In sustained cold below -5°F (-20°C), leaves may curl, brown, and drop but typically regenerate in spring. Plants may become semi-evergreen to deciduous in zone 5. The coarse texture and large scale limit use to larger landscapes.

Native Range

Native to central and western China, primarily in the provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou. Found in mountain forests and scrubland at elevations of 3,000-8,000 feet (900-2,400 m).

Suggested Uses

Commonly planted as a large screen, windbreak, or background shrub at 6-8 foot (1.8-2.4 m) spacing. Functions as a specimen where its coarse texture and large leaves provide contrast to finer-textured plants. Not suited for small gardens due to mature size. Rarely grown in containers due to its scale.

How to Identify

Identified by its large, deeply wrinkled (rugose) leaves 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long with dense tan to gray-brown woolly tomentum on the undersides. The wrinkled leaf surface texture is the most distinctive feature and the basis of both the common name and the species epithet (rhytidophyllum = wrinkled leaf). Large flat-topped flower clusters 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) across appear in spring. Bicolored fruit clusters with both red and black drupes present simultaneously are characteristic in fall.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8' - 15'
Width/Spread8' - 12'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
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Spring
Flower buds are visible from October onward, persisting as tan fuzzy clusters through winter. Buds open to creamy-white flowers from April through May. Individual flower clusters persist 2-3 weeks; total bloom period extends 3-4 weeks. Fruits develop over summer, coloring from red to black between September and November. Cross-pollination between two genetically distinct plants increases fruit set.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Creamy white

Foliage Description

Dark green with deeply wrinkled (rugose) upper surface; dense tan to gray-brown woolly tomentum beneath

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysand
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

6-10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Water deeply once per week during the first two growing seasons. Established plants tolerate moderate drought of 2-3 weeks but maintain better foliage in consistently moist soils. Tolerates a wide range of soil types including clay, provided drainage is adequate. Apply 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) of organic mulch annually to conserve moisture and moderate root temperature. Site in full sun to partial shade; plants in dense shade become open and sparse with reduced flowering. In zone 5, site in a protected location away from winter wind; leaves curl longitudinally in cold as a moisture-conservation response and unfurl when temperatures rise. No significant disease issues; viburnum leaf beetle is an emerging pest in some regions but primarily affects deciduous species.

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering in late May to shape and control size. Remove entire branches at the base or at a lateral junction rather than heading back, which produces an unnatural appearance on this coarse-textured species. To reduce size, cut one-third of the oldest stems to the ground annually over three years. Renovation pruning to 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) is tolerated; regrowth takes 2-3 years to fill in.

Pruning Schedule

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late spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic