If gardeners held a contest among the several species of viburnums native to our area, Winterthur Possumhaw Viburnum would bring home the blue ribbon. Flowers in creamy white flat-topped clusters bloom early to mid-summer against the flossy green foliage, but it's the berries that make this shrub a standout among native plants. The 3 to 5-inch floral clusters evolve into green berries that become a kaleidoscope of colors, turning shades of pink, then blue and eventually almost black, all on the same cluster. How can any bird resist! But wait, there's more. The nearly long green leaves are a handsome backdrop to the summer flowers. Come fall, as the berries ripen to multi-colors, the leaves transform to deep red and then purplish red. How can any gardener resist!
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; medium to wet, well-drained soil
Size: 5'-7' tall, 5'-7' wide
Zone: 5 - 9
Wildlife value: Flowers attract various pollinators; berries provide food for birds