Lil Ditty® Viburnum

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1-2 Feet

Mature Spread

1-2 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

One of only a few dwarf varieties of this hardy shrub, Lil’ Ditty grows to no more than 2 feet high and wide. It can grow in full or partial sun, so you can tuck it into corners, line a garden bed or patio with several, or plant it in a container. No matter where you place it, be sure you can get close enough to enjoy its fragrant white flowers that emerge in late spring.

You might want to burst into song (A lil ditty about Jack and Diane) once you plant this ‘Lil Ditty’ viburnum! The new growth is reddish bronze on a long, glossy leaves then bursts into flat topped flowers with a wonderful fragrance that drifts across the landscape! And you may not know but pollinators “smell” a flower before they see it, so be prepared for a host of pollinators visiting your garden.

A native of North America, it adapts to its conditions in zones 3-8. That also means it is a good plant for attracting birds. However, deer leave the shrub alone, adding to its versatility. You will be most attracted to its white bloom clusters above glossy green leaves, and that fragrance, of course. As an added bonus the fruits are a kaleidoscope of color ranging from green to pinkish rose but then turn blue to black many all at the same time on the same fruit cluster! The birds will have a hard time deciding which one to eat first! Fall color is fabulous with orange, golds and reds all on the same branch.

Lil Ditty Viburnum Care

Viburnums prefer full sun for best color and flowering but will tolerate some light shade. Give Lil’ Ditty at least 5 hours of sunlight a day for best flowering, giving it more sun in colder zones if possible and some afternoon shade in warmer climates. Select soil that drains well but can hold a little moisture. They will like fertile soil with lots of organic matter and an average pH of 5.5 to 6.6. Dig a hole at least twice as big around as the plant’s container and a few inches deeper than the container. Water your shrub right after planting and weekly in its first growth season with a slow, deep watering, letting it dry out some before applying water again. Once mature, you can cut back on watering, adjusting irrigation to help the shrub through hot, dry periods.

Since ‘Lil Ditty’ blooms on old wood there is no need to prune it unless there is a crossed or broken branch. Prune in late winter or early spring. A slow release fertilizer is always a good choice for viburnums. Give it a slow-release fertilizer once each spring if you like, but the native plant can do without fertilizer if in good soil. ‘Lil Ditty’ is cold hardy and heat tolerant from Zone 3a to 8b.

Lil Ditty Viburnum Spacing

Your viburnum can grow quickly, so be sure to give it room to reach its mature size and avoid crowding the leaves and flowers. Because these plants only get 1-2 feet wide, you can plant these as close as 12 inches apart on center to create a short garden border. These are also great in mass plantings.