• Viburnum opulus shrubs yield showy flowers and bright red berries that enhance the ornamental value.Arrow-wood (Viburnum sargentii) 6 image by Valeriy Kirsanov from Fotolia.com
  
  Viburnum opulus, a deciduous shrub more commonly known as European cranberrybush viburnum, features multiple stems and a rounded shape. This plant is widely adaptable to a variety of soils as long as they are fertile and moist. Not only is viburnum opulus easy to transplant, but it also thrives in locations where it receives either full sunlight or partial shade.
  
  

Shrub Border

• Viburnum opulus is a common choice when planting a shrub border because it is rounded in shape and can be planted in a row easily. The spacing between plants varies based on how tall the plant is being kept. While pruning is only occasionally needed to maintain strong growth, this plant does stand up to pruning to achieve the desired shape and height of the border. Viburnum opulus is a hardy plant that is easy to grow and requires little maintenance, making it ideal for landscapes where a large border is needed. Annual maintenance includes light pruning and the removal of any diseased or dead branches.
  
  

Screen

• Viburnum opulus matures to a height of 8 to 10 feet and grows 10 to 15 feet wide. These dimensions and the fact that it features multiple stems makes this plant ideal for screens. The height provides privacy while the multiple stems result in dense foliage. The branches of this tree droop with the weight of the foliage and extend the whole way to the ground.
  
  

Mass Plantings & Small Groupings

• Viburnum opulus is a plant that is commonly used in both mass plantings and small groupings for its ornamental features. This dense and compact shrub features simple, opposite leaves that measure 2 to 4 inches in length and width. The dark green leaves have three lobes and serrated edges and turn yellow or red in the fall before dropping to the ground. Because this bush features multiple stems, it is a wonderful selection for areas where dense foliage is needed.
  
  The ornamental value of this shrub is enhanced by its showy white flowers that appear in clusters measuring 2 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter. These flowers bloom from late May through early June and are followed in the summer by bright red berries that add color to both mass plantings and small groupings. Like the flowers, the berries appear in clusters and can be seen from the late summer through the middle of fall.