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Small Viburnum

Viburnum obovatum

Family: Viburnaceae Unknown Shrub

'Mrs. Schiller's Delight' is a cultivar in the Viburnaceae (viburnum) family. It was introduced by Steve Reifler, a Florida nurseryman. He saw a resemblance to a dwarf youpon holly cultivar called 'Schilling', and associated that name to a friend of his, Mrs. Schiller. Thus, 'Mrs. Schiller's Delight' was named. The common name is derived from Thomas Walter, a South Carolina farmer who hailed from England. He first described the species in the late 1700's. Depending on the zone where grown, this shrub can be deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen. In zones 6 and 7, it will grow as a deciduous shrub, while progressing to evergreen as we head southward. Although quite drought tolerant, in the wild, this cultivar can be found flourishing along sometimes flooded creeks, swamp edges and in forests that are near a river. Typically growing to 3' tall, heights of up to 6' are not uncommon. Clones of this plant are formed from its rhizomes, stems formed underground. Over time, this plant can spread via its rhizomes to form colonies. The optimum form of propagation is from stem cuttings. If grown from its seeds, it may not possess the same low growing properties as the plant where the seeds were collected. This low maintenance plant only requires light pruning to maintain its compact habit. A great plant for a pollinator garden, it is a food source for the larvae of the Azure ( Celastrina ladon ) butterfly. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease issues. It can send up unwanted suckers that may need to be removed. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Viburnum obovatum .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 61 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
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.

Fills a similar niche Cercis canadensis subsp. texensis 'Traveller' Epidendrum ibaguense Hibiscus martianus

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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
High Organic Matter; Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
In cooler climates, the leaves can take on a red/maroon color.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb; Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The small flowers form on 2-3" long corymbs in late winter to early spring.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The small red berries will tun black as they age. They are a favorite of a variety of birds as well as small wildlife.
Stem detail
Multistemmed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Southeast US
Distribution
AL, GA, FL, SC
Wildlife value
Birds and fowl eat the fruits. Serves as a host plant for the azure butterfly. Bees are also attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Food Source; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Berry; Drupe

Uses (ethnobotany)

Its compact habit make it well suited for a location where space is limited.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Walkways
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Small groups; Specimen
Garden tags
#dry soils tolerant #cold tolerant #drought tolerant #shrub #multistemmed #heat tolerant #hardy #showy #showy flowers #compact #small tree #shade tolerant #deer resistant #salt intolerant #pollinator plant #showy fruits #butterfly garden #pollinator garden #windbreak #humidity tolerant #butterfly caterpillar host #salt spray intolerant #pest resistant #wind tolerant #larval host plant #long lived #bird friendly #bat friendly #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Other problems
Purple Mite
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Dry Soil; Heat; Heavy Shade; Humidity
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.