Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist loams, but tolerates a wide range of soils. Established plants have some drought tolerance. Prune as needed immediately after flowering.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum bracteatum, commonly called bracted viburnum, limerock arrowwood or naked witherod, is a deciduous shrub that typically grows to 6-10’ tall and as wide. It is native to open wooded areas along the Coosa River which runs from Rome, Georgia to northeast of Montgomery, Alabama and on limestone bluffs, cliffs and ledges along the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Tennessee. Its survival in nature is currently threatened by limestone mining. Orbicular to ovate, cordate, wavy-toothed, dark green leaves (to 5” long) have pubescence on the veins below. Unpleasantly aromatic white flowers in flat-topped cymes (to 3” across) bloom in mid to late spring (May-June). Flowers give way to pea-sized blue-black fruit (berries to 3/8” across) that matures in late summer. Berries are attractive to birds. Ovate leaves turn bronze-yellow to purple-green in fall.
Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.
Specific epithet is in reference to the bracts on the flower cluster stems.
‘SMVDBL’, sold in commerce under the trade name of ALL THAT GLOWS, primarily differs from species plants by being a more compact version (typically grows to 4-6’ tall and as wide) featuring shinier/glossier foliage. Plant Patent Applied For (PPAF).
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Shrub borders, groups, foundations or hedges.