Linden Viburnum is a deciduous shrub native to the open forests and foothills of China, Korea, and Japan, named for its linden-like leaves. This upright to rounded plant reaches 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, making it substantial enough to anchor a garden space. In late spring, fragrant creamy white flowers cluster in showy domed formations up to 5 inches across, followed by brilliant ovoid bright red fruits that persist and attract birds and butterflies. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and handles drought once established, combining ornamental appeal with low maintenance demands.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-7
900in H x 600in W
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Moderate
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The bright red fruits are the real showstopper here, lingering on branches long after the creamy white spring flowers fade and drawing birds into your garden like a living feeder. Native to cool mountain regions across East Asia, this shrub is completely at home in northern gardens and handles both sun and shade with equal poise. Low maintenance and naturally shapely, it needs minimal pruning and asks only for decent soil and moderate water to reward you with years of reliable beauty and wildlife activity.
Linden Viburnum serves multiple landscape roles. Plant it as a hedge to define garden boundaries with living structure, use it as a shade tree where overhead canopy is needed, or position it as a street tree in areas with moderate growing room. The showy fruits and fragrant flowers make it equally valuable for ornamental impact and wildlife support, drawing birds and butterflies into gardens that need pollinator activity and natural pest control.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune immediately after flowering concludes in early summer. Remove any crossed or damaged branches and thin crowded interior growth to maintain the plant's naturally upright to rounded form. Hard pruning is rarely necessary; light shaping keeps the plant looking its best. Avoid cutting back in fall or winter, as this removes next year's flower buds.
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“Viburnum dilatatum originates from the open forests, forest margins, lowlands, foothills, and scrubby areas spanning China, Korea, and Japan. Its common name, linden viburnum, arose directly from the resemblance of its leaves to those of the linden tree (Tilia), a naming convention that reflects how gardeners across cultures identified and preserved useful plants through observation and comparison. The plant's widespread distribution across East Asia suggests it has long been valued in those regions, eventually reaching Western gardens as trade and plant exploration expanded botanical knowledge.”