Plant Database

Other Names:  Onandaga, Sargent's Viburnum

Description:

A spectacular accent shrub, featuring showy clusters of reddish-tinged white rayflowers and purple new foliage in spring followed by brilliant red fruit in fall and good fall color; hardy and adaptable, a perfect specimen shrub, will grow quite large

Ornamental Features

Onondaga Viburnum features showy white lacecap flowers with shell pink overtones held atop the branches in late spring, which emerge from distinctive burgundy flower buds. It has attractive purple-tipped dark green foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The large serrated lobed leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. The red fruits are held in clusters from late summer to late winter. The smooth gray bark and gold branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Onondaga Viburnum is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Onondaga Viburnum is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Onondaga Viburnum will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.