FAMILY: CaprifoliaceaeViburnum (Viburnum, Arrowwood, Nannyberry…)

Note: Photos presented here were taken in April along Connecticut Route 263, where what appears to be Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum (native to China and Japan) has naturalized into the shadowy deciduous forest margins seemingly a native species. Unable to locate native Viburnum, these photos are included in the absence of photos for the native species.

General Information

There are a number of Viburnum native to Connecticut. These deciduous shrubs are easy to grow and have clusters of white or cream flowers, colorful fruit, and attractive fall foliage. They make excellent residential landscape plants and all are great sources of wildlife food and habitat.

Plant Habit and Form

Most native Viburnum species range between 4 and 15 feet tall. They have irregular to rounded, upright to erect forms with rounded crowns.

Growing Requirements

Most native Viburnum species thrive in moist, well-drained soils in partial shade locations. Some species can tolerate dryer soil conditions as well as more open areas. They range in hardiness from zone 3 to 8.

Flowering and Fruiting

The small white or cream flowers of native Viburnum are arranged in rounded, convex or flattened clusters. Individual flowers are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long with clusters 4 to 6 inches across. The fruit, or drupes, matures from green to red to dark blue or black when ripe in early fall. The age of native Viburnums when they first produce fruit ranges widely from 2 to 3 years up to 8 to 10 years. Part of the ornamental value and wildlife attraction is due to fruit persisting into winter.

Pests and Diseases

Bacterial leaf spot, nematodes, mealy bug, and powdery mildew can be problematic for different species of native Viburnum.

ID Tips

Small, oval, blue-black drupes (fruit). Small white or cream flowers.

FAMILY: HamamelidaceaeFothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla)

General Information

Dwarf Fothergilla is a deciduous, compact and slow growing, mound-shaped shrub native to the southeastern United States. The Dwarf Fothergilla is not native in Connecticut but was utilized in this discussion due to difficulty finding the native species in this area. It features showy, bottlebrush-like, creamy flowers in spring and has fabulous fall color as well. Its moderate size, showy flowers and fall foliage make it an excellent residential landscape planting.

Plant Habit and Form

Dwarf Fothergilla grows around 3 to 6 feet, and it’s about as wide as it is tall. It has a rounded to upright oval form and dense, suckering stems. It has alternate, elliptical-oval-obovate green leaves that are 2 to 4 inches long and display a range of beautiful fall color in shades of red, purple, orange and yellow.

Growing Requirements

Dwarf Fothergilla thrives in cool, moist, well-drained, acidic soils rich in organic matter. It flowers best in full sun and is hardy in zones 5 to 8.

Flowering and Fruiting

The ivory, spiked, bottlebrush-like flower clusters are 1 to 2 inches long. The flowers form on the terminal ends of branches and lack petals. They bloom in May. The green fruit that matures to black is inconspicuous and less than 1/2 an inch in size.

Pests and Diseases

Dwarf Fothergilla is not usually bothered by pests and diseases.

ID Tips

Distinctive flowers that are bottlebrush-shaped and ivory. Dense sucker stems. Colorful fall foliage.

FAMILY: RosaceaeAmelanchier x grandiflora (Apple Serviceberry)

General Information

A hybrid between Amelanchier canadensis and Amelanchier laevis, Apple Serviceberry is a multibranched shrub which can be trained into a small tree form with proper pruning. It has ornamental pink flowers in early spring that fade to white. It suckers less than other species is tolerant to a wide range of growing conditions.

Plant Habit and Form

Apple Serviceberry grows 15 to 25 feet tall by 15 to 20 feet wide. It has an upright, irregular but graceful vase-like form. It has alternate, 1- to 3-inch green leaves that are elliptical in shape with serrated margins. Its fall color is showy with leaf color ranging from yellow to orange to red.

Growing Requirements

Apple Serviceberry grows best in acidic, well-drained soils, but can tolerate clay and sandy soils too. The bush form grows in partial sun but the tree form prefers full sun. It is hardy in zones 4 to 8.

Flowering and Fruiting

Flowers form from pink buds in early spring and open to a very showy display of white. Small, sweet, edible fruits less than 1/2 an inch long follow the blooms and attract birds. They remain on the tree and turn magenta to purple.

Pests and Diseases

Leaf miners and pear sawflies cause damage to the leaves of Apple Serviceberry. Spider mites and aphids can be a concern as well as witches broom and fire blight.

ID Tips

Upright, irregular form up to 25 feet tall. Serrated, elliptical green leaves about 1 to 3 inches long that are yellow, orange and red in the fall. Showy white flowers that open tinged with pink. Magenta to purple berries.