Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-9. Best grown in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Established plants have some drought tolerance. Prune as needed immediately after flowering.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Viburnum luzonicum, commonly called luzon viburnum, is a large deciduous shrub with a dense mounded habit that typically grows to 8-15’ tall, but may occasionally reach 20’. It is native to open forests, scrub and roadsides in southern China, Taiwan and the Philippines. It is infrequently grown in U.S. gardens.
Leaves (to 4” long) are elliptic-ovate to ovate-lanceolate to oblong. Leaves turn reddish-purple in fall and remain on the shrub until late winter before dropping as new growth begins to appear. Small white flowers in compound umbel-like cymes bloom April-May. Flowers have a drab, slightly unpleasant fragrance. Flowers are followed by rounded fruits which mature to red in late summer to early fall, eventually turning black.
Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.
Specific epithet comes from Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines and home to the capital city of Manilla. The native range of this shrub includes this island.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Shrub borders, screens, foundations or hedges. Open woodland gardens.