1.1k gardener saves

Viburnum: the varieties gardeners actually grow

We track 53 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.

53 varietiesZones 4–10Mostly full sun

The 12 most-saved Viburnum varieties

Of 53 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.

#1 most saved

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

Zones 4–8· 77 saves

#2 most saved

Snowball Viburnum

Viburnum opulus 'Sterile'

Zones 4–8· 70 saves· from $19

#3 most saved

Autumn Jazz Arrowwood

Viburnum dentatum 'Autumn Jazz'

Zones 4–8· 60 saves· from $25

Korean spice viburnum

Viburnum carlesii

Zones 4–8· 58 saves· from $25

Mariesii Japanese Snowball

Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'

Zones 5–8· 56 saves· from $25

Blue Muffin Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum 'Christom'

Zones 4–8· 42 saves

Shasta Viburnum

Viburnum plicatum 'Shasta'

Zones 4–7· 41 saves· from $90

American Cranberrybush

Viburnum trilobum

Zones 4–7· 35 saves

Autumn Jazz Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum 'Ralph Senior'

Zones 4–8· 33 saves

Glitters and Glows Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum 'Glitters Glows Arrowwood'

Zones 4–8· 29 saves

Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum 'Synnestvedt'

Zones 4–8· 27 saves

Alfredo Compact American Cranberrybush

Viburnum trilobum 'Alfredo'

Zones 4–7· 27 saves

Browse all 53 Viburnum varieties →

How to grow Viburnum

What the Viburnum varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 40 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.

The Viburnum year

PruneMay and June100% of varieties
Prune after flowering to maintain shape and remove crossing branches.
FertilizeMarch63% of varieties
Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring if needed.
Check for PestsApril–June60% of varieties
Monitor for viburnum leaf beetle activity.
MulchApril and November50% of varieties
Apply a layer of acidic mulch like pine straw or shredded bark.
PlantMarch, April, September and October50% of varieties
Plant in spring or fall to allow roots to establish in cooler weather.

Do

Prune right after flowering to avoid removing next year's flower buds.
Plant in groups for best fruit production.
Water regularly during dry spells 🌱
Mulch around the base to retain moisture
Provide consistent moisture, especially during dry spells.

Avoid

Don't let the soil dry out completely.
Avoid overhead watering to help prevent fungal diseases.
Avoid heavy pruning late in the season.
Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌

What goes wrong with Viburnum

Problem	What you'll see	What to do
Viburnum Leaf Beetle	Skeletonized leaves, defoliation.	Apply horticultural oil to egg sites in winter; use spinosad on larvae in spring; systemic insecticides for severe cases.
Aphids	Much more resistant than V. opulus, but minor infestations can occur on new growth.	Usually controlled by natural predators. A strong spray of water can dislodge them if necessary.
Viburnum beetle	Chewed leaves and skeletonized foliage	Handpick beetles or apply organic insecticidal soap
Viburnum leaf beetle	Skeletonized leaves	Use organic insecticides or handpick beetles
Powdery Mildew	White, powdery fungus on leaves, especially in late summer.	Provide good air circulation. Plant in a sunny spot. Generally not a serious threat to the plant's health.
Leaf Spot	Dark spots on leaves, can cause premature leaf drop.	Ensure good air circulation; remove and destroy infected leaves; apply appropriate fungicides if necessary.
Bacterial Leaf Spot	Can occur in wet conditions, causing dark spots on leaves.	Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Generally not a serious problem.

Making more Viburnum

Softwood Cuttings

Take 4-6 inch cuttings in early summer.
Remove lower leaves and dip in rooting hormone.
Stick in a well-drained rooting medium.
Keep moist and humid; rooting occurs in about 8 weeks.

Cuttings

Select healthy semi-hardwood stems in late summer.
Dip cut ends in rooting hormone.
Plant in moist, well-draining soil.
Keep soil consistently moist for 6 weeks.

Viburnum questions

How many types of Viburnum are there?

The Sow catalog tracks 53 distinct Viburnum varieties. The most popular — ranked by 1.1k real gardener saves — are shown first above.

What zones does Viburnum grow in?

Across its varieties, Viburnum covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.

When does Viburnum bloom?

Most Viburnum varieties bloom in mid-spring, late spring, early spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.

Which Viburnum should I choose?

Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.

Keep exploring

Viburnum shows up in

By hardiness zone

Related genera

Design with Viburnum in your own yard

Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.