Viburnum prunifolium

Common Names

Blackhaw, Blackhaw Viburnum, Smooth Blackhaw, Smooth Blackhaw Viburnum, Stagbush

Summary

Blackhaw viburnum is a native deciduous shrub or small tree of eastern and central North America, typically growing as an upright, multi-stem plant about 12–15 feet tall and 6–12 feet wide, in spring it bears creamy white, flat-topped flower clusters, followed by blue-black, edible drupes in fall, leaves are opposite, simple, glossy green, and turn red to purple in autumn, providing multi-season interest, its dense habit and seasonal display make it suitable as a specimen, hedge, or screen and it supports wildlife by attracting pollinators and birds, thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soils and moisture, from dry to moist, with well-drained conditions, hardy in USDA zones 3–9 and noted for low maintenance and drought tolerance, it works well in naturalized areas, borders, or as a tall hedge or screen, for best fruit production, plant two shrubs to enable cross-pollination, and prune after flowering since buds for next year's flowers form in summer.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-15 feet

Spread

8-12 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun, Partial Shade, and Full Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil; adaptable to a wide range of soil types

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring to early Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green foliage that turns red to burgundy in fall.

Fall Foliage Color

Red to burgundy

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

No species-specific growth rate; viburnums generally moderate- to fast-growing, about 1 foot to more than 2 feet per year.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds