Viburnum scabrellum (Torr. & A. Gray) Chapm.

Southern Toothed Viburnum

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Toothed Viburnum is a native deciduous shrub in the Moschatel family (Adoxaceae). It is native to the southern half of Alabama. Southern Toothed Viburnum occurs along streams and rivers, in mesic deciduous or pine woods, on slopes, in ravines, and in cut-over woodlands. It is a multi-trunked shrub growing to 9 feet in height. Bark on older stems is furrowed and dark gray. Young stems and petioles are densely pubescent with stellate hairs. Leaves are petiolate, opposite, ovate or elliptic in outline, and toothed. The lateral veins end in the teeth. Leaves are rather thick and densely stellate pubescent on the lower surface. Leaves turn various shades of orange, yellow, and red before falling in the autumn. The flowers are produced in terminal cymes. The cymes are densely stellate pubescent. Flowers are five-lobed and off white or cream in color. The fruit is an ellipsoid drupe that is blue-black in color when mature. Southern Toothed Viburnum has traditionally been included in the Viburnum dentatum complex. It differs from Viburnum dentatum in the narrow sense by having a more southern distribution, thicker leaves that are densely stellate pubescent, and densely stellate pubescent cyme branches. Southern Toothed Viburnum is often available from nurseries (sometimes still labeled as V. dentatum). It adapts to a wide range of soil and moisture types. Best growth is in full to partial sun.--A. Diamond

Historically, this species has been lumped with Viburnum dentatum L. but seems to be distinct. While V. dentatum occurs in the northern part of the state, Viburnum scabrellum is the common toothed Viburnum in the southern third of the state.

Native

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