#847 Viburnum rhytidophyllum Common Names: leatherleaf viburnum Family: Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle Family) Get link to this Profile or click for data record #847

A trio of leatherleaf viburnums at the Mount Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Location
Leatherleaf viburnum is native to central and western China.

Culture
Leatherleaf viburnum is a vigorous fast growing shrub that does well in almost any soil, acidic to quite limey. To get fruit, you must have at least two genetically different plants so they can cross-pollinate. They don't have to be the same cultivar, but viburnums grown from cuttings that came from the same plant will not suffice - those are clones and have identical chromosomes and genes. If your leatherleaf viburnum needs pruning, do so right after it flowers since the buds for next season's flowers are produced in late summer. Protect from strong winter winds to reduce leaf damage.
Light: Leatherleaf viburnum does well in partial shade, and tolerates deep shade. It must be protected from full sun in the south.
Moisture: Leatherleaf viburnum needs regular watering.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 - 8. Some sources indicate that leatherleaf viburnum can be grown in zone 9 and even zone 10, but other experts say it can't take the summer heat. The hybrid, Prague viburnum, seems to be more tolerant of heat and cold and can be grown in zones 5-9. The hybrid, 'Willowwood', is hardy to zone 5. In cold climates, leatherleaf viburnum should be positioned so that it is not exposed to strong winter winds which can damage leaves and even defoliate the plant. Leatherleaf viburnum may die to the ground in severe winters, but unless the roots get frozen it will sprout back in spring (but it will not flower that year).
Propagation: Start leatherleaf viburnum from semiripe cuttings in summer. Seeds may require a period of dormancy followed by cold stratification, and are generally difficult to get to germinate. See the Viburnum rufidulum profile for more on propagating viburnums.

Note next season's flower buds already developed in early fall on this leatherleaf viburnum.

Features
The viburnums are just wonderful shrubs for the home landscape. There's more than 200 species of them to provide interest in all seasons, whether grown for their showy (and in some cases, fragrant) flowers; for their ornamental (and in some cases, edible) fruits; for their attractive evergreen foliage (or fall color from the deciduous species); as hedges, or pruned to small treelike specimens. Everybody loves viburnums, including the songbirds who appreciate the fruits in fall and winter. Leatherleaf viburnum is especially attractive with its large creamy white flower clusters on a background of glossy dark green foliage.

Floridata has profiled several well known members of this genus like the sandanqua (Viburnum suspensum) and David (Viburnum davidii) viburnums as well as some that are native to the southeastern United States like arrow-wood (Viburnum dentatum) and rusty black haw (Viburnum rufidulum).

Steve Christman 11/8/00; updated 12/28/03

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