Viburnum acerifolium
A common shade-tolerant understory shrub native to eastern North America with maple-like leaves, 3–6 feet tall, white flowers in late spring, blue-black berries that attract birds, and dense thickets formed by rhizomes and seed in mesic to dry, well-drained soils.
Common Names
Mapleleaf Viburnum, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Maple-Leaved Viburnum, Maple-Leaved Arrowwood, Arrowwood
Summary
Mapleleaf viburnum is a native eastern North American deciduous shrub that typically grows 3–6 feet tall and 2–4 feet wide, often forming colonies by suckering. Its leaves resemble maple leaves, are opposite and three-lobed with coarse teeth, 2–5 inches long, and have a pale underside; spring brings small white flowers in flat-topped clusters, followed by bluish-black drupes in late summer, with fall foliage turning red to purple. It thrives in partial shade and moist, loamy, well-drained soils, but tolerates dry sites and acidic conditions; hardy in USDA zones 4–8. It is low maintenance, naturalizes by suckering to form colonies, and is suitable for woodland gardens, borders, hedges, or foundation plantings; prune after flowering to maintain shape. For fruit set, cross-pollination with a non-identical viburnum is recommended; flowers attract pollinators and provide nectar and pollen, and the fruits feed birds and small mammals.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3-6 feet
Spread
36-48 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade; tolerates full sun.
Soil Type
Moist, acidic, well-drained loamy soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained, moist soil
Soil pH
5.0-6.5
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green in summer; fall foliage ranges from yellow to pink to red-purple.
Fall Foliage Color
Reddish-purple to magenta
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Medium
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, Attracts butterflies, Attracts other pollinators, Attracts birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 268 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Dipsacales
- Family
- Viburnaceae
- Genus
- Viburnum
Synonyms
Viburnum acerifolium f. acerifolium Viburnum densiflorum Viburnum acerifolium f. ovatum Viburnum acerifolium var. densiflorum Viburnum acerifolium var. glabrescens Viburnum acerifolium var. acerifolium