Description
V. lantana – Wayfaring tree – This robust, upright, deciduous shrub or small tree from Europe, North Africa, and Northwest Asia grows to 15’ feet tall and 12’ wide. It is distinguished by its new shoots, which are unusually furry for a viburnum. It produces oval, finely toothed, gray-green leaves with hairy undersides, grow to 5” long, often turning burgundy-red in autumn. In late spring and early summer, it bears small, tubular, creamy white flowers, ¼” across, in loosely domed cymes, to 4” across. Oblong red fruit follows flowers, 3/8” long, ripening to black. Often used as hedging, it grows best on alkaline soils.
Grow in any moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade, most are drought tender. Where not hardy, shelter from cold drying winds. Most deciduous Viburnums tolerate hard pruning.
zones 4-8
