Description
Compared to its bodacious life-of-the-party cousins, mapleleaf viburnum is, comparatively speaking, more shy and reserved. It’s a lot smaller, typically reaching a maximum height of 4 feet or so. It is a multi stemmed understory species growing in the dryer acidic soils and often dense shade of oak and pine forests. Fall foliage is particularly noteworthy for purple loving fans (is there a name for that?), which is a mouth watering luscious grape-purple. Interestingly, the dark purple fruit will stay “on the vine” throughout the late winter until one day it disappears, I am assuming down the gullet of a hungry overwintering bird; nannyberry viburnum exhibits this trait as well. I have read that certain fruit needs to mature before it is edible, allowing the breakdown or conversion of unpleasant phytochemicals into compounds that are more palatable. Might this be the case here, or is something else going on? I am hoping to figure this out at some point, if you do first, let me know!
1 gallon sized plants, single stem, 15″ tall for $32
