Viburnum, Appalachian Tea, Blue Haw, Shawneehaw, Possum Haw, Wild Raisin 'Earth Shade'

Viburnum nudum, the Smooth Viburnum or Possumhaw, is a wonderful, handsome, neat, clean shrub species whether it is the mother species or...Read More a cultivar as this one, all having shiny pretty foliage, good fall color, nice white flower clusters, and pretty fruit that is loved by birds. This species is native from east Texas and southern Arkansas to central Florida and up the East Coast to Rhode Island-Connecticut. The larger professional nurseries or native plant nurseries sell some of this plant in some form. Not available at discount stores with nursery stock. It is good to have different cultivars or different individual straight species plants for cross-pollination for the wonderful fruit.

'Earth Shade' possumhaw viburnum is a nice addition to one's viburnum collection, especially if you have the mass-produced 'Winterthur' a...Read Morend are wondering why you don't get the great fruiting characteristics that you bought it for.

It's because you need a pollinator that is not identical to 'Winterthur', and 'Earth Shade' (among other V. nudum selections) could be just your ticket.

I had twenty 'Winterthur' growing here, and barely a handful of fruit to show for it until I brought 'Earth Shade' on board. Since then, fruit out the wazoo. I have added other selections since, and continue to admire the colorful fruiting on all of them.

It is a relatively compact grower here in KY, but puts out the flowers and fruit. It also displays all the normal fall color features for the species, with red/orange/burgundy/yellow in a grand mix. It will tolerate some drought, but would prefer as wet as you want to give it. Downspout or water faucet feature, I call it. Partner it with Clethra, Itea, Ilex verticillata, or similar wet-site shrubs and you'll have a dandy landscape.