Blackhaw Viburnum

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Consider Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) as either a large, multi-stemmed shrub or a compact ornamental tree with a bit of pruning. You'll create a standout landscape to feel very proud of.

In spring, pristine white flowers are held in attractive, lacy cymes above the foliage. There is simply no missing a Blackhaw Viburnum in bloom!

Each tiny flower is accented with bright yellow stamens for a soft, fluffy look. They actually entice critical flying pollinators to come in closer.

Butterflies and essential pollinators come back time and again to gather the nectar. But more than that, this is a host plant for caterpillars.

Several butterflies and moths rely on Blackhaw Nannyberry to feed their larvae, including: Spring azure, Baltimore checkerspot and Hummingbird moths.

The textured, dark green foliage starts off a warm, coppery color on top and glabrous—or pale—underneath to flash and shimmer in sunlight. The effect is amplified with red petioles that remain ornamental for a long time over the season.

Blackhaw holds it's interior branches at right angles, for a very full and lush look. Bask in their shade...even on small properties.

As the nighttime temperatures drop, the foliage turns a bold burgundy fall color. Plant this with Forest Rouge Blackhaw Viburnum for pollination, and you'll have a range of this incredible maroon natural presentation to decorate the harvest season.

They'll work to pollinate each other, and help the delicate spring flowers develop into dark blue drupes. As you can imagine, songbirds relish these nutritious snacks...so look quickly or you may miss them.

This rugged plant is widely adaptable, and can handle tough conditions, including partial shade. It's a perfect choice for a new homeowner, but makes an exceptional specimen in a collection.

We're excited to offer this special native tree. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew them with pride; order ornamental Blackhaw Viburnum for your landscape today!

How to Use Blackhaw Viburnum in the Landscape

Delight in this native choice as an anchor in your patio planting. You'll get beauty all year-round...and the satisfaction of knowing you've made a responsible choice to feed butterflies and birds.

Mulch underneath for an opportunity to add spring-flowering bulbs and small ornamental shrubs like Little Henry® Sweetspire that tolerate dappled shade.

Try a pair flanking either side of a tall portico entrance. Be sure to study your trees before you plant them to allow the branches to arch up towards each other; then work to custom-fit over time with ongoing pruning cuts to shape.

Use this same technique on a larger scale. Line either side of a long driveway with durable, gorgeous Blackhaw Viburnum for a very handsome entrance.

Line the back fence with Blackhaw as an easy-care ornamental backdrop. Plant a modern shrub border on the south side, using our search filters to find just the right plants for your design.

Let these showy natives retain soil on slopes or embankments. Blackhaw Viburnum is right at home near the water.

Add to hard-working Rain Gardens as a "right-sized" anchor planting. Try an informal grouping or three or more to help filter potentially polluted water runoff from roofs and streets.

On extensive wildlife properties, weave plenty of Blackhaw Viburnum into the mix, along with Forest Rouge and Summer Magic Blackhaw Viburnums. You'll encourage plenty of birds and honey bees...even under the tough shade of Black Locust trees.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Provide at least four hours of sunlight a day. These natural understory trees perform well in partial shade...but you'll get the best fall color with full sun

Well-drained soils are best, although this tough little tree will put up with periodic flooding and drought. Elevate the planting with extra soil heaped up in a mound. They won't tolerate standing water for long, so protect your investment with proper site selection.

Include Nature Hills Root Booster to the planting hole, following directions on the label. This life-long formula contains symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus and other ingredients that work with the tiny feeder roots to access micronutrients.

Moderate water is the key to a happy, healthy Blackhaw Viburnum. It's tough, but you'll appreciate the high performance of a consistently hydrated tree.

Apply a three-inch layer of much over the root system, and you'll cut down on surface evaporation. Please pull the mulch back away from directly touching the stems.

Prune to shape after flowering. Best to develop a pruning plan in advance, especially if you'll keep it as a tree-form.

Remove the lower limbs and maintain a single trunk to achieve that formal effect. Rejuvenate naturalized shrub-form plants by removing the thickest stems at ground level every few years.

Maximize the benefit of your landscape design with this important butterfly host plant. Order your endearing Blackhaw Viburnum from the native tree experts at Nature Hills today.