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Sandankwa Viburnum

Viburnum suspensum (vih-BUR-num sus-PEN-sum)

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

This evergreen viburnum is native to Okinawa and other Japanese islands. It is a popular landscaping shrub in Florida and other mild winter climates where it can grow up to 12 feet if left untrimmed. Pruning is recommended for shaping in spring and summer to limit fast-growing shoots. It thrives in moist, well-drained fertile soil in a wide range of daylight, from full sun to partial shade. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Viburnum .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 55 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
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 Gardenia jasminoides 'Jubilation' Viburnum obovatum 'Raulston Hardy' Viburnum tinus

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
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; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf feel
Leathery; Rough
Leaf value
Fragrant; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Course dark green leaves are 3.5 inches long and 2 inches wide with a rounded or wedge-shaped base and pointed tip. Margins are toothed on the upper 2/3 or not at all.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fragrant pinkish-white tubular flowers in 2-4 inch clusters in late winter to spring.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Black; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small red round berries that mature to black and are not persistent.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Dark brown stems are rough and textured
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Okinawa and other Japanese islands
Distribution
Florida and other mild winter climates
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Pool/Hardscape
Design feature
Border; Hedge; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#salt tolerant #evergreen #deer resistant #fragrant flowers #drought tolerant #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #dense growth #hedge #screen #bat friendly #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Other problems
Purple Mite
Resistant to
Deer; Salt
Particularly resistant to
salt, deer

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.