Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist loams, but tolerates wide range of soils. Established plants have some drought tolerance. Prune as needed immediately after flowering. Single plants usually do not fruit well. For best fruit production, plant two or more V. dilatatum selections in close proximity to each other.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum dilatatum is commonly called linden viburnum because its leaves resemble those of the linden tree (Tilia). It is native to open forests, forest margins, lowlands, foothills and scrubby areas in China, Korea and Japan. It is an upright to rounded, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-10’ tall and to 6-8’ wide. Creamy white flowers (1/4” diameter) in showy, domed clusters (cymes to 5” wide) appear in late spring (May to early June). Flowers give way to ovoid bright red fruits (drupes to 1/3” long) that mature in late summer to early fall and persist on the shrub into early winter. Berries are attractive to birds. Orbicular to broad-ovate, wrinkled, dark green leaves (to 5” long) are coarsely toothed and pubescent on both sides. Leaves turn shades of bronze, burgundy and dull red in fall.
Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.
Specific epithet comes from the Latin word dilatatus meaning spread out.
‘Erie’ was registered and released into commerce by The United States National Arboretum in 1971. It is particularly distinguished by the profusion, winter persistence and coral-red color of its fruits. This is a mounded, somewhat upright, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 7’ tall and to 10’ wide. White flowers in showy, domed clusters (cymes to 6” wide) appear in late spring. Flowers give way to ovoid bright orange-red fruits (drupes) that mature in late summer to early fall and persist well into late winter in showy pendulous clusters. Fruits generally turn an attractive coral-red after several fall frosts. Winter fruit persistence for ‘Erie’ is much longer than that for species plants whose fruits typically shrivel and fade by early winter. Fruit is attractive to birds. Orbicular to broad-ovate, wrinkled, dark green leaves (to 5” long) are coarsely toothed and pubescent on both sides. Leaves turn attractive shades of yellow, orange and red in fall. Pennyslvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal Plant Award in 1993.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Shrub borders, screens, foundations or hedges. Open woodland gardens.