Viburnum, Arrowwood, Bare Root

Viburnum, Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) – Bare Root
Arrowwood Viburnum is a tough, adaptable native shrub with multi-season interest, high wildlife value, and a natural thicket-forming habit ideal for restoration and regenerative landscapes. Named for the straight stems Indigenous peoples once used to make arrows, this eastern U.S. native is widely valued today for its creamy white spring blooms, deep blue fall berries, and gold to burgundy autumn foliage. Whether planted in hedgerows, forest edges, or pollinator gardens, Arrowwood delivers beauty and biodiversity support year after year.

Key Characteristics

• Important Nectar Source for Spring Pollinators
  In May to June, Arrowwood Viburnum produces dense clusters of creamy white flowers that attract a wide array of native bees, hoverflies, beetles, and early butterflies. Its early bloom time makes it a critical nectar source in late spring.
• Berries Feed Birds and Small Mammals
  By late summer to early fall, pollinated flowers mature into blue-black berry clusters that are eagerly eaten by songbirds, wild turkey, grouse, foxes, and small mammals. It is especially important for fall-migrating birds as a high-energy food source.
• Larval Host Plant for Native Moths and Butterflies
  Arrowwood serves as a host plant for several species of moth caterpillars, including the Spring Azure Butterfly (Celastrina ladon) and various dagger moths. Its dense form also provides nesting habitat and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
• Adaptable to a Range of Conditions
  This rugged shrub tolerates sun to part shade, dry to medium-wet soils, and urban pollution, making it a flexible choice for everything from meadow edges to streambanks to backyard hedgerows. It’s also deer resistant once established.
• Great for Hedgerows, Rain Gardens, and Erosion Control
  Arrowwood's suckering habit helps it form dense thickets that are excellent for erosion control on slopes and streambanks. It’s also a top performer in rain gardens, native hedgerows, and pollinator plantings where multifunctionality is key.

Product Details

• Native Range: Eastern and Central U.S.
• Plant Life Cycle: Deciduous shrub
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Requirements: Medium to medium-wet
• Mature Height: 6–10 feet
• Bloom Time: May–June
• Bloom Color: Creamy white
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8

Arrowwood Viburnum is a powerhouse native shrub that offers food, shelter, and beauty in equal measure. Use it to stabilize soil, support wildlife, and create layered, resilient native plantings in almost any landscape.