Viburnum Varieties

Evergreen Shrubs

• Evergreens keep their foliage year-round. The David viburnum (V. davidii) grows from 3 to 5 feet tall with a similar spread. It has leathery, blue-green foliage and grows in a compact, rounded shape. This shrub is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7b to 9 and prefers sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained sites.

  The sandankwa viburnum (V. suspensum) grows to 6 feet tall with a 10-foot-wide spread. It has arching branches and blooms with aromatic, pink and white flowers in spring followed by red berries. Sandankwa viburnums are hardy in zones 5 to 8 and prefer sun to shade and well-drained soil.

Evergreen Trees

• Evergreen trees block the wind in winter when planted near a building. Walter's viburnum (V. obovatum) grows to 20 feet tall. This semi-evergreen has dense, small foliage that has a purple hue in winter. It produces clusters of spring flowers followed by glossy red-to-black berries. Walter's viburnum trees grow in sun to partial shade and tolerate heat, drought and wet to dry soils.

  The southern blackhaw viburnum (V. rufidulum) grows to 20 feet tall with a 15-foot spread. This evergreen has glossy, dark and leathery foliage that turns maroon in winter. It prefers partial shade and well-drained soil, and is hardy in zones 5 to 9.

Deciduous Shrubs

• Deciduous shrubs lose their foliage in winter. The maple-leaf viburnum (V. acerfolium.) grows from 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. This deciduous shrub has a low-branching habit and blooms with yellow-to-white spring flowers, followed by long-lasting black fruits. Maple-leaf viburnum is named for its lobed foliage that turns red and purple in fall. It are hardy in zones 4 to 8 and prefers sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil.

  The Koreanspice viburnum (V. carlesii) grows to 6 feet tall with an equal spread. It has stiff branches and blooms with white, aromatic flowers, followed by red-to-blue-black berries. It prefers sun to partial shade and well-drained, moist soil, and is hardy in zones 4 to 7.

Deciduous Trees

• Deciduous trees often have colorful fall foliage. The blackhaw (V. prunifolium) generally grows to 15 feet tall with a 12-foot spread but occasionally grows to 30 feet tall. This small tree has dark, deciduous foliage and produces edible, blue-black berries. It blooms with white flowers and is hardy in zones 3 to 9. Blackhaws grow best in sun to shade and tolerate a range of soils, heat and drought.

  The nannyberry (V. lentago) grows to 18 feet tall with a 10-foot spread. This deciduous tree has arching branches and glossy, dark leaves that turn purple and red in autumn. It grows well in sun to shade, tolerates a range of soils and is hardy in zones 3 to 7. Nannyberries produce blue-black fruits in fall that attract birds.