Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Viburnum Rhytidophyllum
Leatherleaf Viburnum
- Family
- Adoxaceae
- Height
- 10 feet
- Width
- 10 feet
- Flower color
- Creamy white
- Foliage color
- Dark green, evergreen, with a rough texture and fuzzy gray undersides
- Bloom time
- Late spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low, but benefits from pruning for shape and removing old branches
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees, butterflies, and birds; berries provide food for wildlife
About this plant
Viburnum rhytidophyllum is an evergreen shrub admired for its distinctive foliage and flowers. Its long, leathery leaves are dark green on top with a velvety, pale underside, giving it a textured appearance. In late spring, it produces clusters of creamy white flowers that grow in dense, domed inflorescences. These blooms are followed by bright red fruits that mature to shiny black, providing visual interest and a food source for birds into winter.
Native to China, Leatherleaf Viburnum thrives in woodland or shaded garden settings and is valued for its adaptability to various soil types. Its hardiness and low maintenance make it a popular choice for hedges or screening, especially in sheltered locations to protect the foliage from wind damage.
Companion plants
Fatsia · Foamflower · Viola · Aucuba · Ferns · Trillium
Design tip
Bring Leatherleaf Viburnum into areas that need visual weight and strong evergreen structure. Its large, deeply textured leaves create a substantial backdrop for finer foliage, while their pale, fuzzy undersides add dimension whenever wind or branching exposes the leaf reverses.
