The Major Downside To Planting Gorgeous Viburnum Flowers In The Garden

Viburnums (Viburnum L.) are gorgeous and versatile ornamental plants loved for their dense green foliage, delicate flowers in the spring, and colorful fruits in the fall. Their bundles of tiny white flowers are often mistaken for hydrangeas. Why wouldn't you want to fill your yard with these beautiful plants? Well, there's one important reason to research first: the potential for viburnums to be invasive. 

There are more than 150 species of viburnums plus additional cultivars to offer seemingly endless options. Viburnum species range from 2 to 30 feet tall, deciduous to evergreen, and with varying appearances. Most are native to North America and Asia, but some are native to Europe and Africa. You may be excited by such a large selection, but don't start buying plants just yet. When choosing a viburnum to plant, there is more than space, growing conditions, and aesthetics to consider. 

Many species are invasive plants that you should never grow in North America, spreading quickly and outcompeting native plants. Several varieties are safe to plant wherever you garden, so it is only a matter of determining which species to avoid planting in your area to keep your region's native habitat healthy.

There are several viburnum species to look out for in North America. Those native to Europe, Asia, and Africa were brought to North America for ornamental purposes but have spread to natural ecosystems. However, it's important to note that not all non-native plants are considered invasive so there could be some species of viburnum that originate in another country but aren't invasive in your yard. 

Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum), native to Korea and east Asia, is invasive to the mid-Atlantic region of the United States from New York to Virginia, some Midwestern states, and Canada. It grows quickly and forms dense thickets in understory forests, robbing nutrients from trees. Japanese snowball (Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum) is a cultivator of double file viburnum (V. plicatum f. tomentosa). They are both invasive in the greater Washington area and Canada.

Native to Japan, the Siebold viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii) is a tall-growing plant, reaching heights of 15 to 20 feet. It takes over forests in the mid-Atlantic region, Ohio, Kentucky, and Canada. Tea viburnum (Viburnum setigerum), native to China, is another species that's invasive in the mid-Atlantic as well as the midwestern United States and Canada. The wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana), a parent of hybrids like Lantanaphyllum viburnum (Viburnum x rhytidophylloides), is also invasive in the midwestern United States.

Luckily, several viburnum species are perfectly fine to grow in North America. These species grow in different USDA Hardiness Zones, so it's important to choose varieties that work in your area. Cranberry viburnum, also known as the American cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum), is the perfect berry-producing bush for your yard. Its red berries are not actually cranberries. However, they are edible, tasting similar to tart cherries, and can be enjoyed in pies and jams. Cranberry viburnum is perennial in zones 2 to 7. With maple-shaped leaves that turn shades of gold and red in the fall, maple leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is a beautiful option to spruce up your fall landscape. This little shrub is perennial in zones 4 to 8.

Swamp-haw viburnum (Viburnum nudum) is a native of east coast stream banks from Florida to Long Island, though it grows just as well in typical garden settings. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, this viburnum grows white flower clusters and fruits. Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) is another great plant for the fall, with foliage that turns deep purple and red during the season. Its edible berries ripen in August and turn blue through the winter. Blackhaw viburnum is perennial in zones 3 to 9. Once used by Native Americans to make arrows, arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) grows straight branches that sprout white, clustered flowers in the spring and orange to red foliage in the fall. This plant is perennial in zones 3 to 9. Look for native viburnum varieties that fit your space and offer the look you want.