17 Beautiful Viburnum Varieties to Grow This Season

If you are seeking a large flowering shrub for your garden, give viburnums a try! These flowering shrubs are real stunners. Their flowers range from lacecaps to snowball shaped, and most of them have an added fall bonus of colorful berries and stunning fall foliage color.

Viburnums are flowering shrubs that typically flower in white or very light pink. These shrubs are low maintenance and grow best in full to partial sun. They work great in gardens as hedges or borders.

There are several varieties of viburnum out there that can flourish in hardiness zones 4-8. These shrubs are low-maintenance that thrive in full sun to partly or mostly shade. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular viburnum varieties, as there’s bound to be a perfect fit for your garden!

‘Dawn’

	botanical name Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors Pink
	height 8-10 feet
	hardiness zones 5-7

‘Dawn’ is a prized viburnum variety, well known not only for its beautiful floral display but also for its vigor and dependability. The flowers on ‘Dawn’ will begin to emerge before the leaves appear on the shrub.

The flower buds are bright pink, opening to pale pink flowers. The fruit will emerge in the late summer as bright red, which will fade to black as the berries mature. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves will emerge with hints of copper and will mature to a rich green. In the fall, these leaves will turn different shades of red.

‘Mohawk’

	botanical name Viburnum x burkwoodii ‘Mohawk’
	plant type Semi-evergreen shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 8-10 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

‘Mohawk’ is a product of the crossing of V. burkwoodii and V. carlesii in 1953. This pretty viburnum variety has bright red flower buds that open to white flowers. These flowers can reach up to 3 ½ inches across and will start to bloom in April.

‘Mohawk’s’ flowers are extremely fragrant and abundant. The foliage is semi-evergreen, holding onto its leaves all year long in warmer climates. The leaves are glossy dark green and will turn to shades of orange, red, or purple in the fall.

‘Aurora’

	botanical name Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors Light Pink
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 4-7

‘Aurora’ is a cultivar that was developed at the Slieve Donal Nursery in Ireland back in 1958. This variety has bright pink or red flower buds that open to light pink flowers. These flowers have a spicy and pleasant aroma, and they will reach up to 5 inches across, which is quite large for a viburnum.

‘Aurora’ will bloom in the springtime and will lead the way to bright red berries. The foliage on ‘Aurora’ is deciduous. The leaves are dull green and will turn red in the fall.

‘Compactum’

	botanical name Viburnum carlesii ‘Compactum’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 3-4 feet
	hardiness zones 4-7

This is an excellent compact viburnum variety that was introduced by a nursery in Newport, Rhode Island in 1953. ‘Compactum’ is a shrub with pretty light pink flowers. They will fade to white ball-shaped flowers in the spring.

Once the flowers fade, they will be replaced with bright red berries. The flowers have the spicy aroma that this species is known for. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves are a deep green until they turn a deep red in the fall.

‘Diana’

	botanical name Viburnum carlesii ‘Diana’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors Pink
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 4-7

‘Diana’ is a very pretty viburnum that is compact with a bushy nature. The flower buds on ‘Diana’ are bright red and will open to light pink flowers. The flowers on this shrub will turn white as it matures. As with the rest of the Koreanspice viburnums, these flowers have a pleasantly spicy aroma. 

Once the flowers fade, they will be replaced with bright red berries. ‘Diana’ is a deciduous viburnum. The leaves will emerge with hints of bronze and mature to a matte dark green. In the fall, the leaves will turn to shades of purple or red.

‘Spice Girl’

	botanical name Viburnum carlesii ‘Spice Girl’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors Pink
	height 6-7 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

In mid-spring, ‘Spice Girl’ will be covered in dark pink buds that will slowly open to light pink balls of flowers. These flowers are very fragrant, filling your garden with a deliciously spicy aroma that will invite pollinators to your yard.

When these pretty flowers fade, ‘Spice Girl’ will provide wildlife with plenty of red berries. The foliage on ‘Spice Girl’ is deciduous. These leaves are a matte green. ‘Spice Girl’ has a tremendous fall color, showcasing colors of burgundy and deep red. This is an excellent viburnum to be used as a hedge.

‘All That Glitters’

	botanical name Viburnum dentatum ‘Spice Girl’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 4-5 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

If you are interested in growing an arrowwood viburnum but are tight on space, ‘All That Glitters’ is a great compact option for your garden. The flowers on this viburnum are white and more disc-shaped than ball-shaped.

Once these flowers are spent, the viburnum will erupt with blue-colored berries. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves are a high gloss green and are very attractive. This viburnum variety would be a beautiful foundation shrub or a pretty border plant around a patio or garden edge. 

‘All That Glows’

	botanical name Viburnum dentatum ‘All That Glows’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

Similar to ‘All That Glitters’, ‘All That Glows’ is just a little bit larger of a shrub. The flower buds on this viburnum variety are green and very tight. They will open to creamy white disc-shaped flowers.

‘All That Glows’ is adorned with blue-colored berries that are common with arrowwood viburnums. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves are a beautiful shiny green, which really accents the creamy flowers nicely. Plant with ‘All That Glitters’ to ensure you get the maximum berry production.

‘Blue Muffin’

	botanical name Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 4-7 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

Another increasingly popular variety from Proven Winners is ‘Blue Muffin’, and it is quite easy to see why. This viburnum begins to bloom a little later, starting in the early summer. The shrub will be covered with white flowers.

When these flowers fade, they will be replaced with stunning blue-colored berries that will last well into winter. The foliage is deciduous.

The leaves are a glossy green that will turn gold and deep red in the fall. Be sure to plant another viburnum with ‘Blue Muffin’ to ensure you get the best berries this viburnum can produce.

‘Sparkler’

	botanical name Viburnum dentatum ‘Sparkler’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 10-15 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Sparkler’ is a beautiful, large arrowwood viburnum variety. Growing up to 15 feet tall, this viburnum would be great for privacy, for blocking an A/C unit, or just for planting outside of a window. The green flower buds unfurl into white foamy flowers.

When these disc-shaped flowers have completed their show, the shrub will be covered with clusters of deep blue to almost black berries. The foliage on the ‘Sparkler’ viburnum is deciduous. The leaves have a ruffled edge and are shiny green. In the fall, these leaves will fade to shades of yellow and red.

‘Compactum’

	botanical name Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 4-9

As the name suggests, this is an excellent viburnum variety to plant in your garden if you have limited space. Growing to 6 feet tall, that is about half the size of the rest of the species. The flowers of ‘Compactum’ are a creamy white that are flattened rather than gathered in a snowball shape.

Once these flowers pass, the shrub will be covered in deep red berries. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves are reminiscent of maple leaves and are a matte green that will take on shades of pink and purple in the fall.

‘Roseum’

	botanical name Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 10-12 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

The flowers on this stunning shrub are well-loved by gardeners and florists alike. In the late spring, ‘Roseum’ will be packed with white flowers that are 3-inch balls. These pretty white flowers will mature and take on hints of green and blush pink, which makes quite a statement in an early summer garden.

The flowers on ‘Roseum’ are sterile, and therefore this viburnum will not have any berries later on in the season. The foliage on this viburnum is deciduous. The green leaves will turn to shades of red and orange in the fall.

‘Xanthocarpum’

	botanical name Viburnum opulus ‘Xanthocarpum’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 6-8 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Xanthocarpum’ is a very pretty and versatile viburnum variety. This shrub has a nice upright form and doesn’t get too huge. It would be really pretty used as an anchor to your foundation gardens or used as a specimen anywhere in your yard.

‘Xanthocarpum’ blooms in late spring with flat, lacecap blossoms, similar to lacecap hydrangeas. The berries are yellow-gold and are a favorite of birds. The foliage is deciduous and has the shape of a maple leaf. These bright green leaves will turn shades of pink or yellow in the fall.

‘Mariesii’

	botanical name Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 6-8 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

The double-file viburnum is truly something to behold and ‘Mariesii’ is no exception. This sprawling viburnum will be covered with large lacecap flowers throughout the spring. These flowers will cover the entire length of the horizontally growing branches.

In the fall, the bright red berries will fill your garden with color. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves are a matte green with deep veining. There is no notable fall color on this viburnum.

‘Popcorn’

	botanical name Viburnum plicatum ‘Popcorn’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 5-8 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

‘Popcorn’ is a lovely variety of Japanese snowball viburnum. This variety was bred in Ohio. Blooming in the middle of the spring, this viburnum will be covered in 3-inch wide ball-shaped clusters of white flowers.

There are so many of these flowers it looks like someone has dumped a bag of popcorn on top of your viburnum. The foliage is deciduous. The leaves are leathery and deep green. These leaves will turn shades of burgundy in the fall. 

‘Shasta’

	botanical name Viburnum plicatum ‘Shasta’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

The ‘Shasta’ viburnum is a year-round beauty. Beginning in the spring, this viburnum will be covered in white lacecap flowers that will reach up to 6 inches wide! These flowers will appear on each side of the stem, really filling out the entire shrub with beautiful blossoms.

The fruit on this viburnum is bright red and appears in large clusters. These berries will mature to black, and birds love to feed on them. The foliage is deciduous.

Throughout the spring and summer, the leaves are bright green and are deeply veined. In the fall, the leaves will turn to shades of red and purple.

‘Summer Snowflake’

	botanical name Viburnum plicatum ‘Summer Snowflake’
	plant type Deciduous Shrub
	bloom colors White
	height 6-8 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

Although this is still a large shrub, ‘Summer Snowflake’ is on the moderate side for a double-file viburnum. The horizontally-growing branches will be covered in crisp white lacecap flowers throughout the spring. These flowers will reach up to 4 inches in width.

In the fall, brightly colored and highly ornamental red berries will appear in place of the flowers. The leaves are deciduous and a dark shade of green with the traditional deep veining of the double-file viburnum. These leaves will turn to shades of purple and dark red in the fall.