Viburnum recognitum

Common Names

Northern Arrowwood, Smooth Arrowwood, Southern Arrowwood, Arrowwood

Summary

Smooth Arrowwood, also known as Northern Arrowwood or Southern Arrowwood, is a native deciduous shrub of eastern North America that forms a multistemmed clump about 5–15 ft tall with long, straight branches. Leaves are opposite and elliptic to ovate with serrate margins, and white flower clusters appear in spring, followed by blue-black drupes; it grows in wet areas such as swamps, stream banks, bottomlands, damp thickets, and mesic woodlands.

It tolerates moist to medium-well-drained fertile loam soils and prefers light full sun to partial shade, with hardiness zones 4–7. It is used in landscapes as hedges, borders, or a specimen plant, and nectar and pollen attract bees and butterflies while fruits are eaten by birds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-15 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loam soils with slightly acidic to neutral pH.

Soil Drainage

Moist to wet, well-drained soils

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Creamy white to white, with occasional pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Glossy green leaves that turn yellow or red in autumn.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow or red in autumn

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Growth rate not specified.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings (including Softwood cuttings in late spring/early summer)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, butterflies, and birds