Viburnum obovatum Walter

Small Leaf Arrow Wood; Walter's Viburnum

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Walter's Viburnum is a native shrub or small tree in the Moschatel family (Adoxaceae). It is known from two counties in Alabama. Walter's Viburnum occurs along streams, in wet depressions, in low pine woods, and in hammocks. It is a multi-trunked evergreen reaching a height of 25 feet. The leaves are opposite, sessile or with short winged petioles, oblanceolate or spathulate in outline, entire or irregularly serrate, dark green and glabrous above and light green and glandular dotted below. Flowers are produced in cymes. The flowers are white with five spreading lobes. The fruit is a drupe. Walter's Viburnum is listed as a S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G5 species (demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery). Walter's Viburnum is a popular landscape plant, especially in Florida, and is frequently available from nurseries. Despite its preference for wet sites in nature, in cultivation it is not picky about soil type or moisture. Dense plants with a compact growth form require full sun and usually some pruning. Large upright, spreading, weeping, and dwarf cultivars are available. Walter's Viburnum can be used for hedges and screens, or as a specimen shrub or small tree.--A. Diamond

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Native FACW+ (NWPL) S1 (State Rank) G5 (Global Rank)

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