Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' is a cultivar of smooth witherod viburnum, a mounding, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 5-12’ tall and wide in low woods, swamps, and bogs through the eastern half of the United States. Named for the botanical garden in Delaware where it was originally introduced, the 'Winterthur' cultivar is a moderately compact variety of Viburnum nudum, typically growing to only about 6' tall, with glossier, more attractive leaves than its parent species. Since it is originally native to swamps and boggy areas, 'Winterthur' viburnum prefers medium to wet soils, and tolerates full to part sun.
'Winterthur' produces profuse clusters of white flowers in the late spring and early summer, which turn to multi-colored berries through the mid summer, starting green and deepening to pinks, reds, blues, and purples from there on. Flowers are lightly fragrant, and attractive to butterflies and pollinators, and the berries are favored by birds and small mammals; although sour and astringent, berries are also edible to humans. Red-purple fall foliage, as well as animal foraging, adds multi-season interest, and the 'Winterthur' cultivar's compact size and tolerance of a wide variety of environmental factors make it a great choice for a variety of locations in the home landscape.
Note: To produce fruit, Viburnum nudum 'Winterthur' should be planted with at least one other Viburnum that blooms at the same time in order to successfully cross-pollinate; most commonly, 'Winterthur' is planted alongside Viburnum nudum 'Brandywine'.