Skip to main content

Walter's viburnum

Viburnum obovatum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) is a perennial shrub native to AL, FL, GA, SC. It blooms in February, March, and April. The flowers draw bees, flies, and butterflies.

Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)
Photo: (c) mfeaver, some rights reserved (CC BY)

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 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Walter's viburnum.

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.

Growing Walter's viburnum

Grow Walter's viburnum in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 60 to 180 inches tall and spread 60 to 120 inches wide.

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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Walter's viburnum? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.