Leatherleaf Viburnum is an evergreen shrub native to China. This shrub prefers well-drained average to moist acidic soils. It blooms in late spring the flower buds are formed in late summer to early fall of the previous year and are also ornamental. The dark-green foliage is also desirable. The leaves and blooms are showy and the bright red berries can last into winter. Use in mixed shrub borders or as a hedge. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: In colder winter areas it may experience winter die-back. Plant where it can be protected from winter winds. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. Quick ID Leaves are wrinkled, tomentose above and below Large, OPPOSITE, lanceolate, dark-green leaves Late-spring yellow-white cymes 10-20 cm across More information on Viburnum .
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | 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
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Open
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate, entire, distinctly rugose, tomentose above and below, 3-7 in long and 1-2 in wide.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Bell; Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Creamy white flowers on 4 to 8 in. flat-topped cyme. Individual small flowers have long stamens, 5 petals and are 1/4 inch wide. Inflorescence is a 7-11 rayed, flat-topped axillary cyme.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Red drupe turns black and can last into winter
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Stems are gray-brown, young stems pubescent.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China
Wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer.