• Photo of Viburnum dilatatum (Viburnum dilatatums)

Plant Profile: Viburnum dilatatum

Taxonomy: Viburnum dilatatum

Names

Linden Viburnum

  • Photo of Viburnum dilatatum (Viburnum dilatatums)

Phonetic Spelling:vih-BUR-num dil-uh-TAY-tum

Genus:Viburnum

Species:dilatatum

Family:Viburnaceae

The linden viburnum, a shrub indigenous to Asia, earns its common name due to its leaves, which bear a resemblance to those of the linden tree. This plant typically reaches heights of 8 to 10 feet and spreads 6 to 8 feet wide. It has a tendency to produce suckers, leading to thickets that can overshadow native plant species. Therefore, it may be wise to opt for a native variety of Viburnum or one that is less invasive.

In spring, the shrub showcases clusters of white flowers, which give way to red drupes that eventually turn black in the fall and winter. It thrives in average, well-drained soils that are kept moderately moist and can tolerate some drought once it is established. This versatile plant is suitable for use in shrub borders, as a privacy screen, or for foundation plantings.

Fortunately, the linden viburnum does not face significant issues with insects or diseases.

Viburnum dilatatum Feature Summary

Viburnum dilatatum Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#deciduous
#invasive
#showy berries
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#weedy
#showy fruits
#deer resistant
#foundation planting
#non-native
#screening
#bird friendly
#butterfly friendly
#shrub borders

Similar Plants

Viburnum dilatatum is often confused with:

Viburnum dilatatum Feature Summary

Attributes
The fruit is a good winter food source attracting birds. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
Perennial
Woody
Fruit
showy large clusters of 1/3 inch red berries in fall. May persist into winter.
Red/Burgundy
< 1 inch
Flowers
3 to 5 in. flattened flower cluster in late spring of 1/4 inch creamy-white flowers 5 petaled individual flowers.
White
Cream/Tan
4-5 petals/rays
Tubular
Star
< 1 inch
Leaves
2-5 inch long and 1-2.5 inch wide dark green leaves with a rounded or somewhat cordate base, short-acuminate tip and margins coarsely dentate with a wrinkly appearance. Hairs are present on both surfaces. Leaf shape can vary from nearly round to more strap-like on the same plant. Fall color is bronze to dull reds.
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Elliptical
Obovate
3-6 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Gray-brown bark
Dark Gray
Dark Brown
Stem
stems are brown with prominent orange lenticels and densely hairy.
Brown/Copper
Hairy (pubescent)
Conspicuous
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Songbirds

Viburnum dilatatum Attributes

Viburnum dilatatum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Asia

Viburnum dilatatum: Wildlife Value

The fruit is a good winter food source attracting birds. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer.

Viburnum dilatatum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Viburnum dilatatum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Viburnum dilatatum Fruit

Viburnum dilatatum: Fruit Description

showy large clusters of 1/3 inch red berries in fall. May persist into winter.

Viburnum dilatatum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Viburnum dilatatum: Fruit Color

grass
Red/Burgundy

Viburnum dilatatum: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Viburnum dilatatum: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Viburnum dilatatum: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Viburnum dilatatum: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Viburnum dilatatum Flowers

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Description

3 to 5 in. flattened flower cluster in late spring of 1/4 inch creamy-white flowers 5 petaled individual flowers.

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
White

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Viburnum dilatatum: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Viburnum dilatatum Leaves

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Description

2-5 inch long and 1-2.5 inch wide dark green leaves with a rounded or somewhat cordate base, short-acuminate tip and margins coarsely dentate with a wrinkly appearance. Hairs are present on both surfaces. Leaf shape can vary from nearly round to more strap-like on the same plant. Fall color is bronze to dull reds.

Viburnum dilatatum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Viburnum dilatatum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Red/Burgundy

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Viburnum dilatatum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Viburnum dilatatum: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Viburnum dilatatum Bark

Viburnum dilatatum: Bark Description

Gray-brown bark

Viburnum dilatatum: Bark Color

grass
Dark Brown
grass
Dark Gray

Viburnum dilatatum Stem

Viburnum dilatatum: Stem Description

stems are brown with prominent orange lenticels and densely hairy.

Viburnum dilatatum: Stem Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Viburnum dilatatum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Viburnum dilatatum: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Viburnum dilatatum: Stem Lenticels

Conspicuous
Not Conspicuous

Viburnum dilatatum Whole Plant Traits

Viburnum dilatatum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Viburnum dilatatum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Viburnum dilatatum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Viburnum dilatatum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Viburnum dilatatum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Viburnum dilatatum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Viburnum dilatatum Cultural Conditions

Viburnum dilatatum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Viburnum dilatatum: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Viburnum dilatatum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Viburnum dilatatum: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Viburnum dilatatum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Viburnum dilatatum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Viburnum dilatatum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Viburnum dilatatum Landscape

Viburnum dilatatum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Viburnum dilatatum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Viburnum dilatatum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Viburnum dilatatum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Viburnum dilatatum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy