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Blackhaw

Viburnum prunifolium

Also listed as Viburnum bushii, Viburnum pyrifolium

Also known as Blackhaw Viburnum

shrub☀️ full sun💧💧 moderate water❄ Hardy: Zone 3b – Zone 9b

Climate Match for your location

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Blackhaw is a native deciduous shrub prized for its fragrant white flower clusters in spring and striking blue-black fruits and burgundy fall foliage. It's a low-maintenance plant excellent for wildlife and naturalized landscapes.

Why grow it

Blackhaw outperforms many ornamental viburnums in drought tolerance once established and requires minimal pruning to maintain form. Its native range across eastern North America makes it well-suited to naturalized plantings and woodland edges where it supports wildlife with reliable fruit production. Unlike some cultivated viburnums, blackhaw typically produces abundant fruit without cross-pollination, simplifying site design.

Watch out for

Growth rate is slow to moderate, so plants may take several seasons to reach landscape maturity. Young plants benefit from consistent moisture during establishment, though older specimens are quite drought-resistant. In some regions, viburnum leaf beetle can cause defoliation, so monitoring new plantings and nearby native viburnums is advisable.

Overview

Form
Rounded
Growth Rate
moderate
Size
12–16′ tall × 8–12′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous
Family
Viburnaceae
EdibleMedicinalErosion controlHedgerow
Coppicing

Native to the United States

Native Range

Eastern North America

Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Edible Parts

fruit

Season of Interest

SpringFall

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Companion Planting

Plants well with