Walter’s Viburnum "Withlacoochee" (Viburnum obovatum) is a striking, long‑lived native shrub that brings year‑round beauty and exceptional wildlife value to the landscape. Growing 6–15 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide, it forms a dense, upright structure with notable hurricane wind resistance, making it a dependable choice for Florida gardens. In late winter to early spring, it bursts into clusters of showy white flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and a wide range of pollinators. As a larval host for the Spring Azure butterfly, it plays an important role in supporting native insect life. By late summer into early fall, the shrub produces abundant red fruits that mature to black, eagerly eaten by birds and small mammals.
This deciduous shrub thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers sandy, acidic soils with moisture conditions ranging from usually moist with occasional inundation to not wet but not extremely dry. With its combination of ornamental blooms, colorful fruit, and ecological benefits, Walter’s Viburnum ‘Withlacoochee’ is an outstanding choice for hedges, screens, naturalized plantings, and wildlife‑friendly landscapes.
- Shrub
- Size: 6-15 ft. tall by 6-8 ft. wide
- Flower: White
- Fruit: Red, black
- Exposure: Full sun, part shade
- Moisture: Adaptable - usually moist to extremely dry
- Soil: Sand, acidic
- Larval host for the Spring Azure butterfly. Attracts many pollinators. Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.
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