In terms of their care, plan to water whenever the soil begins to dry out. Fertilization will generally be an annual task, along with pruning. The shrubs can spread out of their bounds via suckers traveling through the soil. So cut back these suckers if you wish to prevent the shrub’s spread. Moreover, if you live in a climate that has considerable temperature fluctuations, a light layer of mulch around your shrub can help to keep its roots at a consistent temperature as well as to retain soil moisture.
Light
This shrub grows well in full sunlight to partial shade, meaning it needs at least roughly four hours of direct sunlight on most days. In hot climates, shade from the strong afternoon sun is ideal. But too little sun can impede flowering.
Soil
Arrowwood viburnum prefers a loamy, well-drained soil. But it can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay soil. It likes an acidic soil pH.
Water
The shrub needs at least a moderate amount of soil moisture, though mature plants have some drought tolerance. They also can handle occasional flooding. Keep young shrubs well watered, and continue to give established plants water whenever the soil begins to dry out.
Temperature and Humidity
The shrubs prefer temperate conditions, though they have fairly good heat and cold tolerance within their growing zones. Make sure to water them well in very hot weather to minimize plant stress, and give them protection if your temperatures will be unseasonably cold to prevent foliage damage. Humidity typically isn’t an issue for the shrubs.
Fertilizer
To encourage healthy growth and profuse flowering, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring. It also can be beneficial to mix compost into the soil around your shrub.
Types of Arrowwood Viburnum
Cultivars of arrowwood viburnum include:
‘Bluemuffin’ (V. dentatum ‘Christom’), a compact cultivar reaching 5 to 7 feet in height and 4 to 6 feet in width’Autumn Jazz’ (V. dentatum ‘Ralph Senior’), a larger shrub, 6 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide, with a striking range of fall colors including yellow, orange, red, and burgundy.
Pruning
These shrubs don’t need extensive pruning. Right after the plant is done flowering, prune any stems necessary to maintain the shrub’s shape. But avoid taking off more than a third of the shrub’s overall size. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased portions of the shrub whenever you spot them.
Propagating Arrowwood Viburnum
The best propagation method is from softwood or hardwood cuttings.
How to Grow Arrowwood Viburnum From Seed
Growing viburnum from seed is possible but a lengthy and finicky process. Because propagation from cuttings is fairly easy and has a good success rate, it is the propagation method of choice.
Potting and Repotting
Arrowood viburnum is too large to work well as a container plant. For a potted plant, choose a dwarf variety such as witherod viburnum ‘Lil’ Ditty’, a cultivar of Viburnum cassinoides.
Overwintering
Arrowwood viburnum is a tough plant that does not need winter protection.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Arrowwood viburnum shrubs don’t have serious issues with pests or diseases. However, they might be bothered by the viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni). This beetle has become a major problem for viburnum shrubs in Europe and North America. Both the adult beetles and their larvae eat the leaves of the bushes. And if not controlled, the pest can defoliate your shrubs completely, resulting in their death. The female beetles lay their eggs on the undersides of the shrub stems. So if you notice dark spots there, it’s best to prune off those stems and dispose of them before the eggs hatch in the spring. Use organic pesticides only for serious infestations, as they also can kill beneficial insects.
How to Get Arrowwood Viburnum to Bloom
If your shrub does not bloom, the culprit can be lack of sunlight, lack of nutrients, or improper pruning. Apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus in the early spring. As for pruning, viburnums bloom on old wood and you might have accidentally removed the buds if you pruned it too late in the season. Follow the pruning instructions above.
Common Problems With Arrowwood Viburnum
Like many native plants, arrowwood viburnum is trouble-free plant when grown in its native range where is it well adapted to the growing conditions.
