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Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-Leaved Viburnum)

Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-Leaved Viburnum)

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Maple-leaved viburnum stays smaller than many shrubs and suits partly shaded, fairly dry ground. Taller shrubs can crowd it in fertile soil, so choose neighboring growth carefully.

For Viburnum acerifolium, choose filtered sunlight or light shade and mesic to dry soil. Recorded habitats include rocky upland woods; Sandy upland woods; Wooded stabilized dunes; Rocky wooded slopes. Reported height: 2-6 ft.

Leave room for the mature branches beside paths and nearby plantings. Growth habit: woody shrub with occasional branching. Root structure: branching woody roots.

Plant specifications & ecological relationships

Key growing facts

Sunlight Filtered sunlight or light shade
Soil moisture Mesic to dry
Height 2-6 ft
Bloom season Late spring to mid-summer
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
Growth habit Woody shrub with occasional branching
Root form Branching woody roots
Soil pH Prefers somewhat acidic soil
Cultivation hardiness zones Zones 4a–8b (general cultivation guidance)
Drought tolerance High
Deer browsing Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible.
Salt tolerance None

Plant identification & seed reference

Botanical name Viburnum acerifolium
Other common names maple-leaved arrowwood; Maple Leaf Viburnum; Mapleleaf Viburnum
Seed germination USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified.
Plant family Adoxaceae
Seeds per pound — reference estimate 13100
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates

Other documented plant associations

These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.

Understory tree and shrub associates

Northern part of the American hornbeam range

Other regional plant communities

These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.

  • Small trees and shrubs in yellow-birch forests (Eastern North America; account synthesis): Betula alleghaniensis.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value

State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.

Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest UPL
C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 9
Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 Yes
Native range — U.S. states Alabama; Arkansas; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Illinois; Indiana; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Mississippi; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin
County nativity Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity.
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlifeNo verified list yet

No additional named relationships have been verified for this listing.

Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions

What are the ideal growing conditions for Maple-Leaved Viburnum?
Light: Filtered sunlight or light shade. Soil moisture: Mesic to dry.

How do I germinate and establish Maple-Leaved Viburnum from seed?
USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified.

Is Maple-Leaved Viburnum deer and herbivore resistant?
Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.

When should I expect Maple-Leaved Viburnum to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Late spring to mid-summer. Timing varies with location and weather.

Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes

Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE National Wetland Plant List.

Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA Forest Service: american hornbeam; USDA Forest Service: Betula alleghaniensis; USDA NRCS PLANTS; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox.

Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.

Research notes & credits

USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.

Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.

Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.

Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.

With its small stature, white flowers, and beautiful foliage Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-Leaved Viburnum) has many uses in the landscape.  This species is generally more shade tolerant than most other native Viburnums.  Because this species tends to sucker so use them in mass plants or prune as necessary to keep in place.  This species produces black berries that songbirds love!  Maple-Leaved Viburnum produces a fall show with excellent magenta colors.  Currently, the #1 pot has shoots about 6" tall.
  • Flower Color White
  • Flower Time May
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