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Chindo Sweet Viburnum

Viburnum awabuki (vih-BUR-num a-wa-BU-ke)

Family: Viburnaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

‘Chindo’ viburnum is an upright, dense, woody, broadleaf evergreen shrub in the viburnum family (Viburnaceae). It was collected by J.C. Raulston of the North Carolina State University Arboretum from Jindo, South Korea, in 1985. The specific epithet was adopted from a common name. For best growth, plant in moist, slightly acid, well-drained, fertile soil with full sun to partial shade. Provide some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Too much shade results in fewer flowers and less dense branches. It grows rapidly to 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. Next season’s fruit grows on old growth. Prune at most one-third of the shrub after flowering. Once established, it is drought-tolerant. It is mildly resistant to deer damage. This shrub was named a J.C. Raulston Arboretum Choice Plant in 2003. The clusters of tiny white flowers are fragrant and bloom in late spring. It attracts bees, butterflies, pollinators and songbirds. In the fall, heavy clusters of red berries provide food for wildlife. In the colder climates, the glossy green leaves are semi-evergreen. The lower branches can be trimmed to create a small single-trunked tree. Create an evergreen hedge or screen with ‘Chindo’. Plant it as a large accent shrub, evergreen hedge or screen. It can be used in borders, or open woodlands in a sunny location and in drought-tolerant and pollinator gardens. Quick ID Hints: It is an evergreen shrub with large, waxy leaves. The flowers are white in rounded corymbs. The leaves are remotely toothed, leathery. Insects, Diseases and Other Potential Problems : Aphids, spider mites, purple mites, root weevil adults and thrips may occasionally feed on the foliage. Bacterial leaf spots, mildews (powdery mildew and downy mildew), and crown gall can occur. Fungal and algal leaf spots and anthracnose can be found on viburnum foliage. Armored scales can cause branch dieback. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on common pests and diseases. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology,” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Viburnum .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 63 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Ilex latifolia Viburnum tinus
Fills a similar niche Ilex cornuta 'Carissa' Ilex x attenuata Foster Hybrid Group Pyracantha coccinea

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are very shiny, alternate, waxy medium-dark green, and measure 3 to 7 inches long with lightly serrated margins. The new growth may have a reddish tinge.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Lightly fragrant small white flowers on rounded clusters in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are pendulous, large, red to purple berry-like drupes.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Stems and branches stout, angled, abundant grayish lenticels.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
India, Burma, China, Japan, Philippines
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Colorful; Screening
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Recreational Play Area
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Hedge; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#vigorous #evergreen #deer resistant #fantz #evergreen shrub #red fruits #white flowers #fruits fall #spring flowers #glossy leaves #showstopper #bird friendly #bee friendly #fragrant flowers #landscape plant sleuths course #hedge #cpp #accent #HS111 #HS304 #hortcontest #screen
Problems & Resistance
Other problems
Purple Mite
Resistant to
Deer; Drought
Particularly resistant to
Mildly resistant to damage by deer, can withstand drought-like conditions.
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.