'Raulston Hardy' is a dwarf viburnum cultivar introduced by the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. Developed from the US-native Walter's viburnum ( Viburnum obovatum ), it is smaller, denser, and hardier than the species, forming a tight bush useful for landscaping. Its form lends itself as an alternative for boxwood species with the added bonus of white April-blooming flowers and black fruits loved by birds. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, taking on some purple color in colder weather, though may become deciduous closer to zone 6. Plant in full sun to partial shade in average, moist, acidic, well-drained soils. It is tolerant of both dry and wet soils, cold and drought, heat and humidity, and even salt and browsing by herbivores. Its small size lends itself to many landscape uses such as hedges, foundation plantings, containers, and even specimen plants. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Viburnum obovatum .
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.
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); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Oval; Rounded
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Obovate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves at 1 to 2 inches long and 1/3 to 1.25 inches wide. They are often a lustrous dark green in summer with a varying amount of purple fall color. They are evergreen during warm winters and semi-evergreen to deciduous in cold winter. Margins are entire to slightly toothed.
Fall color
Purple/Lavender
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1.75-2.25 inch dome-shaped clusters of small white flowers open in early spring. May start blooming sporadically in the fall and winter.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/4 inch red to shiny black drupes in fall.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish-brown stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Early food source for bees. Birds and other wildlife eat the fruits.