Why Viburnum Should Be Your Go-to Winter Shrub—and How to Care for It

Winter can be a tough time for gardeners. The colorful blooms that they put so much love and care into have faded away, and all that's left is a list of arduous maintenance tasks. Frosts and freezes can even damage your perennials, making the cold weather feel all the more brutal.

It's not all doom and gloom, though—there are some evergreens that can brighten up your garden even during the depths of winter. Viburnum is a great example, adding color and fragrant blooms to the otherwise chilly, dour season. Here's everything you need to know about this hardy shrub.

Growing in Winter

Viburnums are beloved for their beautiful leaves and berries, adding color to your garden even during winter.

"They're remarkably resilient and generally handle cool to freezing temperatures well," says landscape designer and author Jan Johnsen. "Their performance depends largely on the specific species and your local hardiness zone."

She notes that they're considered "tough as nails," though the weight of snow can still pose an issue—carefully brush heavy accumulation off with a broom to keep the plant sturdy.

Their berries, in particular, play a larger role in the environment: "They provide a vital food source for birds—and a pop of color against the snow," she says.

Varieties

There are over 150 different varieties of viburnum, so picking the right one for your yard can feel daunting. If you're stumped, don't worry—we asked Johnsen about a few of her favorites.

• Doublefile Viburnum: This viburnum (pictured above) has a horizontal branching structure that looks beautiful as part of a larger landscape. "In late spring, it produces stunning, flat-topped, white flower clusters that sit atop the branches, followed by reddish-black fruit that attracts songbirds," Johnsen adds. Zones 5 to 8.
• Leatherleaf Viburnum: As its name would suggest, this shrub has long, textured leaves. "It maintains its dark green foliage throughout winter, making it an excellent choice for year-round privacy or sturdy windbreak," says Johnsen. Zones 5 to 8.
• Brandywine Viburnum: This variety of viburnum produces beautiful, colorful berries in "a vibrant palette of green, bubblegum pink, and brilliant blue all at the same time," says Johnsen. Bonus: Its glossy green leaves turn a dark red in autumn. Zones 5 to 9.

How to Plant

Johnsen recommends planting viburnum in spring or early fall. Spacing for these plants is key—don't plant them too close together.

"Dig a hole twice as wide as the rootball and just as deep, ensuring the top of the roots sit lightly above the soil line," she says. "Backfill with good amended soil, water deeply, and apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture."

Keep the soil consistently moist for the first year.

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Care Instructions

Viburnums are very hardy, so once they're established, they're relatively easy to care for. Johnsen recommends applying 1 inch of water per week during dry spells.

"For optimal growth, apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring before new leaves appear and maintain a 2-inch layer of organic mulch around the base to regulate soil temperature and moisture," she says.

Viburnums thrive in full sun to partial shade; if you want the best flowers and berries, six hours of sun a day is ideal.

"They prefer moist, well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter and slightly acidic to neutral in pH," she says. "Avoid areas where water pools—viburnums like good drainage."

Pruning

You can prune viburnum if it becomes too large or leggy during late winter. "Cut back one-third of the oldest stems to the ground to encourage fresh, vigorous growth," says Johnsen.

Make sure to prune at the right time! Pruning in late summer encourages new growth that won't have time to harden off before frost.