Walter's viburnum
Viburnum obovatum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
60"–180" H × 60"–120" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
AL, FL, GA, SC
Pollinators
bees, flies, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A dense, fine-textured shrub with small glossy leaves and flat clusters of small white flowers, easily kept as a clipped hedge or left informal as a small tree. Small dark fruit follows the spring bloom.
Wildlife value
Host plant for spring azure.
Flowers draw pollinating insects and the fruit feeds songbirds; foliage also hosts spring azure butterfly caterpillars.
Common questions
- How much sun does Walter's viburnum need?
- Walter's viburnum grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Walter's viburnum bloom?
- Walter's viburnum blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is Walter's viburnum native?
- Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) is native to AL, FL, GA, SC, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Walter's viburnum host?
- Walter's viburnum is a larval host plant for spring azure.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Walter's viburnum? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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