wetland shrub
Hobblebush
Viburnum lantanoides
1 of 2Native to the Northeast and the Southeast and southern Canada
Extreme northeastern Ohio to Rhode Island, north to Maine and Maritime; also south through mountains to South Carolina
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 3–7 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Jun Flowering time
- Height up to 12 ft to 3.7 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A wetland shrub for sun through shade and evenly moist soil. At up to 12 ft, it needs room in rain gardens, pond edges, and damp low spots. Hardy in USDA zones 3–7.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Beetles Red Aquatic Leaf Beetle also Microclytus compressicollis, Evodinus monticola
- Bees Pure Green Sweat bee also Colletes inaequalis, Bufflehead Mason Bee
- Butterflies Red Admiral also Green Comma
- Also visited by
- Wasps: Northern Aerial Yellowjacket
- Moths: Ipsilon Dart Moth
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Summer azurecaterpillar host
- Red admiralnectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WetlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The Northeast and the Southeast and southern CanadaUnited States (15): CT, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV. Canada (5): NB, NS, ON, PE, QC. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Extreme northeastern Ohio to Rhode Island, north to Maine and Maritime; also south through mountains to South CarolinaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–7 · Canadian 2–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, gravelly or sandy, acid loamsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 4.9–7.0The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- MediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 12 ft (to 3.7 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 14+ in (36+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–JunWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Required (cold, moist)Whether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, cuttings, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.0 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- LowHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- ModerateWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.