Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum) Unity Grown

Viburnum prunifolium, commonly referred to as blackhaw viburnum, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree native to much of the American mid-east, from Texas northeastward up to New York. Commonly growing in a suckering, multi-stem form, blackhaw can reach 10-20' tall and 6-15' wide in a mounded shape. As a viburnum, blackhaw produces showy lacecap clusters of white flowers in the spring and, although flowers are not fragrant, these blooms are highly attractive to a wide variety of pollinators, with members of the viburnum genus playing host to more than 100 species of caterpillar! After it flowers, pollinated blackhaw viburnum blooms turn to blue-black berry-like fruits that add further multi-season interest alongside its showy purple-red fall colors.

Viburnum prunifolium grows best in full sun to partial shade and is typically found in the wild along streambanks, in thickets, and generally in wooded environments where it feeds pollinators with its flowers and small mammals and birds with its fruit; beyond its use as a food source, blackhaw viburnum also provides shelter to a number of small animal species among its dense branches. As it typically grows in a variety of locations to a rather large size, Viburnum prunifolium is an excellent specimen plant, but also works great for large hedges and borders or for naturalizing as an understory plant in woodland areas. In the home garden, blackhaw will do best in average, medium-dry soils, but will tolerate clay and black walnut, as well as drought and deer damage, making it a hardy choice for a lot of different areas!