Doublefile Viburnum

When we moved to the lake I was determined to landscape with plants that I love, while also using as many native plants as possible since we would be living on a major watershed. One of my all-time favorite plants that I'd craved forever is a Doublefile Viburnum.


It's one of the first plants I put in the ground. The next spring I realized it was in entirely the wrong spot so I moved it to a corner by the garage. This viburnum is now as tall as the garage, and is as wide as it is tall. In this perfect location, its branches are able to stretch and dance, and this year it is completely loaded with delicious white blossoms.


Doublefile Viburnums are called by some the "Queen of Shrubs." It's a matter of taste and preference of course, but I tend to agree. This particular Doublefile has been in the ground now about 6 years and I've already begun pruning back some of the woody stems. It has a tendency to grow multiple stems up from the base, but they can be easily pruned. I've read that as viburnums age it's helpful to cut back the older woody growth, but we've not reached that part yet with this one.

What I love about this particular planting is the combination of plants in this eastern bed. This photo is taken from the lake side looking back toward the street. The viburnum is easily the largest shrub at this time, but on the other side is a variegated weigela and a small Japanese red maple. The colors together are stunning. That'll be another post once the weigela fills in better this spring.

So there you have it. My Doublefile Viburnum. One of my favorite non-native plants.