Rusty Blackhaw
Viburnum rufidulum
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- Viburnum rufidulum
- USDA Symbol:
- VIRU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 760 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Calledapteryx dryopterata, Coleophora viburniella, green cloverworm moth (Platynota idaeusalis), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Marmara viburnella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, maroon, purple
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire. Tolerates occasional fire in woodland and savanna settings.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–270 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–365 days
- Notes:
- Double dormancy requires warm stratification (60-90 days) followed by cold stratification (90-180 days). Germination can be erratic and may take up to two years.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Warm stratification for 6 to 17 months followed by cold stratification for 3 to 4 months. Gibberellic acid treatments can be used but results may be poor. Best results when seeds are planted soon after collection in the fall.
Establishment: Seeds often germinate prematurely during the stratification treatment period, which can lead to etiolated seedlings in the stratification containers. It is recommended to wait two years for the seedlings to germinate after planting the seeds.
Source: npn.rngr.net