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Viburnum cassinoides

Witherod Viburnum

Plant Type:

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

Viburnum cassinoides – ​This is the Witherod Viburnum, our original cuttings coming from a plant raised by Professor Mark Brand from the University of Connecticut. Rounded in form it is a dense handsome shrub. Emerging elliptic leaves are bronze to red-purple becoming dark matte-finished green. Flowers are white touched with creamy yellow, 2” to 5” in diameter. The fruit is remarkable transforming from green to light green to pink to red, blue and finally black in September, often with all the colors present simultaneously. Wow! Fall foliage can be a mix of orange, red and purple.


Height:

5-6 ft

Spread:

5-6 ft

Colors:

Cream

Zone:

3 to 7
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Viburnum cassinoides

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn

Autumn Interest

  • Autumn Leaf Color
  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant
  • Songbirds
  • Honey Bees & Native Bees

Light

  • Full Sun
  • Mostly Sunny

Attributes

  • Hedgerow
  • Border
  • Natural Garden
  • Massing
  • Shrub Border
  • Wildlife Garden
  • Hedge

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Fertile

Origins

  • Eastern North America

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Viburnum

Common Name: Viburnum

Viburnum. This genus is full of fantastic, multi-season garden worthy shrubs. Garden heroes. Spring flowers, often large and showy, many with heady sweet fragrance are arranged in cymes. Some smell of musk (Viburnum dilatatum) while others produce no fragrance at all. Flowers are followed with berries. If late season and autumn berries are desired then planting two of a species will ensure fruit set; for instance, Viburnum dilatatum 'Erie' and V. dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' will pollinate each other and produce fruit. Viburnum cassinoides is closely allied with V. nudum; but if the flowering times do not overlap then there will be no fruit. However, if you plant V. nudum 'Winterthur' in proximity with V. nudum var. angustifolium, 'Longwood', 'Moonshine' or 'Pink Beauty' berries will abound. Another interesting example is V. lantana which crosses with V. burejaeticum and vice versa. Any V. plicatum f. tomentosum selection such as 'Shasta' or 'Shoshoni' will pollinate with all other V. plicatum f. tomentosum selections like 'Copper Ridges or 'Pink Beauty'. But if you were to plant two 'Shasta' side by side with no other V. plicatum f. tomentosum in near proximity then your effort will be fruitless. As with almost all in the universe of plants there are exceptions. There is one viburnum which appears to be self-fruitful, Viburnum setigerum the Tea Viburnum. Another interesting exception to the rule is Viburnum nudum 'Pink Beauty' which is also self-fruitful - a departure from its siblings. And on the other spectrum are two I can think of off-hand that are barren, Viburnum plicatum 'Roseum' and Viburnum plicatum 'Kern's Pink'. Oftentimes, the dwarf viburnums reamin in a juvenile state and do not produce fruit. All Viburnum of any size that do produce fruit are magnificent in the late season garden. And they feed all manner of birds. Larger, denser shrubs provide cover and nesting opportunities. Nearly all Viburnum have terrific autumn foliage colors, too. Viburnums are members of Caprifoliaceae. All prefer part to full sun and fertile soils. All are cutting grown. Many thanks to Gary Ladman of Classic Viburnums who generously set us straight regarding some of the details we had originally incorrectly lauded... ya can't know everything!