Viburnums are a good option for gardeners looking to add color to the landscape or set up a bird garden. Most varieties produce showy flowers which are followed by colorful berries that are highly nutritious to birds. Viburnums thrive in average soils, require very little watering, and will need little maintenance. They make good specimen plants or garden borders.
The following viburnum varieties will attract birds to your lawn.
1. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
The Arrowwood is a flowering shrub with glossy green foliage and showy white flowers that bloom during late spring. The flowers are followed by blue-black fruits which are eaten by birds and other wildlife.
The foliage turns yellow, orange, or red during the fall. It is native to the United States and Canada. It is deciduous and matures at 6-10ft tall and 6-10ft wide. Arrowwood is relatively low maintenance, and drought tolerant. It can be grown along garden borders and as a privacy screen. It is affected by leaf spots and honey fungus.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows well in rich, medium-moisture, well-drained, loamy soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 2-8.
2. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Nannyberry produces berries that are loved by thrashers, robins, waxwings and catbirds. The fruits will remain ripe through winter, providing a valuable food source to birds.
It is deciduous and has dark green leaves which turn maroon during the fall. The ivory flowers appear as clusters during the spring. They attract bees and butterflies. Nannyberry matures at 15-20ft high and 6-12ft wide. It is pest free and requires very little maintenance.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows well in average-moisture, well-drained, loamy soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 2-8.
3. Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)
The Korean Spice, also known as the Mayflower, is a viburnum species that bears fragrant white or pink flowers. It is deciduous, with its flowers turning black in the fall. Birds feed on these berries over the winter. They give way to bright red berries which darken during the fall season.
Due to its fragrance it is best grown along patios and other living areas. Korean Spice matures at 3-5ft tall and 3-8ft wide. It is slow growing and therefore needs less maintenance. It is a good choice for your winter garden. This plant is native to Asia and vulnerable to pests such as aphids.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows well in rich, well-drained soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 4-7.
4. Sargent Viburnum (Viburnum sargentii)
This large deciduous shrub is popular for its foliage and floral display. The leaves emerge in a bronze-purple color during spring and turn to a shade of red or purple in the fall.
The showy white flowers surrounded by dark red buds bloom during late spring. They are followed by clusters of berries in the summer. It attracts hummingbirds and birds. It can be planted along garden borders or as a specimen plant. The shrub matures at 6-8ft tall and 6ft wide. It is low maintenance and propagates through stem cuttings in the summer.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows well in medium-moisture, humus-rich, well-drained soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 4-7.
5. Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)
Laurustinus is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean. It is notable for its showy and fragrant white flower clusters that bloom during spring. They are nectar-rich and attract bees, butterflies and birds.
The flowers transform into blueberries that provide food to birds over the winter. It is a good winter plant, as it blooms to maintain color and attract animals to your garden. Laurustinus matures at 8ft tall and 6ft wide. It is a good option for privacy screens and shrub borders. Once it is established, Laurustinus is extremely drought resistant.
- Thrives in full sunlight.
- Grows well in moderately fertile, well-drained, acidic or neutral soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 8-10.
6. David Viburnums (Viburnum davidii)
David Viburnums are a low-growing evergreen shrub perfect for birds. It produces showy white flowers that bloom in the spring. They are followed by metallic blue fruits in the fall. These fruits are food for birds during the winter.
It is a moderate-growing plant, maturing at 2-3ft tall and 3-4ft wide. It can be grown along garden borders or as a specimen plant. It is low maintenance, needing very little water to flourish.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows well in moderate moisture, well-drained soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 7-9.
7. Snowball Bush Viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum)
The Snowball Bush is a dense deciduous shrub popular for its large white flowers that bloom during spring. The flowers resemble hydrangea blossoms at full maturity. They are followed by small red berries which ripen to black during the fall.
The shrub is best planted during the spring or fall. It attracts bees and birds to your garden. The berries are of great nutritional value to birds. It matures at 6-12ft tall and 6-10ft wide.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows well in moderate, well-drained, acidic or alkaline soils.
- USDA hardiness zones 6-8.
Viburnums keep season-round interest in your landscape. They are a favorite plant for birds due to their nectar rich colors and attractive, nutritious berries. Viburnums are versatile in your landscape and will serve different purposes, from screening to covering borders. Choose the right variety depending on your microclimate and type of birds you want in your garden.
