Blackhaw Viburnum

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

12 - 15 Feet

Mature Spread

6-10+ Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 9

The Blackhaw Viburnum or Viburnum prunifolium adds a range of color and visual interest to a yard. The darling 5-petaled, star-shaped flowers are a creamy white. The individual blooms are tiny but bloom in clusters that measure up to 5 inches wide, creating an impressive visual display. Enjoy the fragrant blooms in mid-May. Bluish-black berries emerge by fall. The ovate leaves start green and settle into a red-purple hue in the fall.

The Blackhaw Viburnum is lovely to look at but also plays an important role for wildlife. The flowers are a food source for pollinators like butterflies, while birds and other wildlife eat the berries. Birds also use the branches as nesting sites and cover. This shrub has a branched, upright growth habit and can appear as a small tree when mature. Feature the Blackhaw Viburnum in a mixed bed where it will add height, or create a stunning border along a fence or property line. The Blackhaw Viburnum is native to North America and grows in zones 3 through 9.

Blackhaw Viburnum Care

This shrub grows well in dry conditions, making it an excellent option for busy gardeners or those living in areas with water restrictions. Give the Blackhaw Viburnum a spot with full sun, although it can handle partial sun. Average garden soil that promotes drainage is best because viburnum does not like wet feet. Established plants are drought tolerant, but water during a dry spell to keep the plant lush and healthy. 

Prune to shape and promote a dense, well-branched structure after the flowers fade. Grow Blackhaw as a multistemmed shrub, or remove the lower stems to create a single-trunk, tree-like form.

Blackhaw Viburnum Spacing

Blackhaw Viburnum reaches 12 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide. Plant shrubs 8 to 10 feet apart to create a hedge or continuous planting.