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Native Plant Society of Texas

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

Other common name(s):

Southern Arrowwood

Family:

Adoxaceae (Adoxa Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

6
to
10
ft.

Spread

12
to
12
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Poor Drainage, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Fall Color, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Caterpillars, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Flood, insect, and disease tolerant. It is the most soil-adaptable of the viburnums. Prefers stream banks and moist woods. If necessary, prune for shape. Leaves turn beautiful red fall color. Propagation: seed, suckers transplant.

Comments

Blooms May-July. Rounded form with downy, arching branches. White, flat-topped flower clusters are followed by dark blue berries. Leaves are rounded to lance-shaped, shiny green above, dull green beneath, grooved, with toothed margins. Larval host: Spring Azure.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Store seeds with pulp on at 41 degrees. Seed. If seeds must be stored, they will need a period of stratification. Collect the fruit as soon as it has turned a dark blue-black color. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIDE
Softwood Cutting Dip cutting in a 1:10 solution of Dip n Grow, and stuck in flats of perlite under mist in the greenhouse. Cuttings root in a few weeks and are then transplanted to quart containers with a mix of Sunshine Mix #1, fine pine bark chips, Nutricote, and endomycorrhizae. Container materials are transplanted into gallon containers the second season and are ready for the field in the third growing season.. Softwood cuttings are taken in late June-mid July. Cuttings are trimmed to approximately 6 inches with one pair of leaves at the top. 1) https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=caprifoliaceae-viburnum-361&referer=wildflower 2) https://www.thespruce.com/arrowwood-viburnum-shrubs-growing-tips-2132732
Root Cutting Plant the root cuttings horizontally in a well-draining potting mix. Ensure they are buried about 1 inch deep in the soil. Water the cuttings thoroughly and keep the soil moist. Maintain a consistent temperature around 60°F (15°C). You can use a cold frame or greenhouse to create this environment. After several weeks, you should see new shoots emerge from the top of the root cuttings. Once the shoots are established, the cuttings can be transplanted into larger pots or directly into the garden. This method is ideal for propagating Viburnum dentatum during the fall or early spring. Choose healthy and established Viburnum dentatum plants. With a trowel, gently dig around the base of the plant, exposing the roots. Identify root pieces that are about 2-4 inches long and ½ inch thick. The root pieces should have a slight bend or curve. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-viburnum-dentatum/#:~:text=Root%20Cuttings:,or%20directly%20into%20the%20garden.

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

Other names:

Southern Arrowwood

Family:

Adoxaceae (Adoxa Family)

Characteristics
Growth Form:
Shrub
Height:
6
to
10
ft.
Spread:
12
to
12
ft.
Leaf Retention:
Deciduous
Lifespan:
Perennial
Soil:
Sand, Loam, Poor Drainage, Moist, Dry
Light:
Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Water:
Low, Medium
Native Habitat:
Woodland, Wetland or Riparian
Photo Credit: Brundage, Stephanie, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=47688
Photo Credit: Cressler, Alan, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=38520
Photo Credit: Wasowski, Sally and Andy, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=24995
Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands
Color:
White
Season:
Spring, Summer
Seasonal Interest:
Berry, Fall Color, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host
Wildlife Benefit:
Caterpillars, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees
Low maintenance. Flood, insect, and disease tolerant. It is the most soil-adaptable of the viburnums. Prefers stream banks and moist woods. If necessary, prune for shape. Leaves turn beautiful red fall color. Propagation: seed, suckers transplant.
Blooms May-July. Rounded form with downy, arching branches. White, flat-topped flower clusters are followed by dark blue berries. Leaves are rounded to lance-shaped, shiny green above, dull green beneath, grooved, with toothed margins. Larval host: Spring Azure.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Store seeds with pulp on at 41 degrees. Seed. If seeds must be stored, they will need a period of stratification. Collect the fruit as soon as it has turned a dark blue-black color. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIDE
Softwood Cutting Dip cutting in a 1:10 solution of Dip n Grow, and stuck in flats of perlite under mist in the greenhouse. Cuttings root in a few weeks and are then transplanted to quart containers with a mix of Sunshine Mix #1, fine pine bark chips, Nutricote, and endomycorrhizae. Container materials are transplanted into gallon containers the second season and are ready for the field in the third growing season.. Softwood cuttings are taken in late June-mid July. Cuttings are trimmed to approximately 6 inches with one pair of leaves at the top. 1) https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=caprifoliaceae-viburnum-361&referer=wildflower 2) https://www.thespruce.com/arrowwood-viburnum-shrubs-growing-tips-2132732
Root Cutting Plant the root cuttings horizontally in a well-draining potting mix. Ensure they are buried about 1 inch deep in the soil. Water the cuttings thoroughly and keep the soil moist. Maintain a consistent temperature around 60°F (15°C). You can use a cold frame or greenhouse to create this environment. After several weeks, you should see new shoots emerge from the top of the root cuttings. Once the shoots are established, the cuttings can be transplanted into larger pots or directly into the garden. This method is ideal for propagating Viburnum dentatum during the fall or early spring. Choose healthy and established Viburnum dentatum plants. With a trowel, gently dig around the base of the plant, exposing the roots. Identify root pieces that are about 2-4 inches long and ½ inch thick. The root pieces should have a slight bend or curve. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-viburnum-dentatum/#:~:text=Root%20Cuttings:,or%20directly%20into%20the%20garden.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason