Viburnum rufidulum

Common Names

Rusty Blackhaw, Southern Blackhaw, Blackhaw, Bluehaw, Downy Viburnum, Nannyberry, Southern Nannyberry, Rusty Nannyberry, Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum, Southern Blackhaw Viburnum

Summary

Rusty Blackhaw, Viburnum rufidulum, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to the eastern and central United States, typically reaching 10–20 feet tall and wide with an upright, multi-stem habit, it features glossy green leaves with rusty brown hairs on the undersides, buds, and young stems, and produces creamy-white flower clusters in spring followed by blue drupes ripening in fall, fall color is red to burgundy, it tolerates a range of soils and sun exposure, performing best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil, and becomes drought tolerant once established, hardiness is USDA zones 5–9, propagation can be by seed or semi-hardwood cuttings, and the plant is low maintenance, suitable for hedges, borders, understory plantings, or naturalized landscapes, while providing nectar for pollinators and fruit for birds

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

10-20 feet

Spread

120-240 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, adaptable to moist to dry conditions, with no single ideal soil specified.

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (March–June)

Foliage Color

Glossy dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Red, burgundy, purple

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, birds