KTRS 550 Inside Out Show Plant of the Week August 29th Viburnum Blue Muffin

Viburnum BLUE MUFFIN (‘Christom’) is a round and compact form of Arrowwood viburnum /Viburnum dentatum.
Although this cultivar is considered “petite” compared to her counterpart, (The straight species, native to Eastern North America that inclues part of Missouri, reaches 6-10’ tall and wide) V. d. BLUE MUFFIN matures at 5’ tall with a similar spread.

Blooming on the same cycle as the wild form, she flowers from mid-to –late spring. She has the same attractive flat-topped clusters of clean white flowers as the species, which is very attractive to butterflies!

After weeks of bloom, her flowers eventually give way to masses of small blueberry size fruit late summer. These berries add an attractive visual accent to the dark green foliage as it begins to turn multiple shades of copper orange before turning to a deep burgundy-purple.

This easy care viburnum looks her best in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. . Although she performs best in moist cultivated soil, she also tolerates average clay soil very well. Once established, she is drought tolerant but looks best when watered during extended dry periods. She is perfect for specimen use, borders, and foundation planting or massed in groups.

Care Factor Rating: 2 She must be watered regularly till established and does not require pruning when given adequate space! She will tolerate a once a year non-selective pruning to1/3 after flowering if shaping is desired but note this will prevent berry production! Otherwise remove only the occasional damaged or dead branch.

This is a cane shrub that spreads by increasing from the crown / base by producing new shoots from the base annually. This makes her a perfect choice for hedge or screening. If her individual personality is to remain defined, consider limiting the basal area / spread of this shrub in early spring before the leaves develop.

Remove the excess shoots with a pruning saw. Cutting around the base with a sharp shovel may also be necessary. Remove any excess root and woody material and replace-refill any hole area created with fresh soil to protect roots. This activity will slow the gradual expansion of the primary clump. Maintaining base area spread for each individual shrub to 2-3 feet wide as this will permit the shrub to appear balanced by keeping the height and width somewhat equal. Do not start this process until the shrub is well established and has shown adequate growth.

Native Americans reportedly used the straight stems of this shrub for arrow shafts, hence the common name “arrow wood”.