Cold Hardy Viburnums for Zone 4
| Scientific Name | Common Name(s) | Berry Color | Habit/Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viburnum trilobum | American Cranberrybush, Highbush Cranberry | Bright red, persistent | Upright, rounded; 8-12 ft tall, 8-10 ft wide | Tolerates wet soils; berries edible; excellent fall color (red-purple); native alternative to invasive V. opulus |
| Viburnum lentago | Nannyberry | Blue-black | Upright, large; 15-20 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide | Tolerates wet and dry soils; glossy foliage; can be trained as small tree; excellent fall color |
| Viburnum dentatum | Arrowwood Viburnum | Blue-black | Rounded, dense; 6-10 ft tall and wide | Adaptable to various soils; good for naturalizing; birds love berries; excellent fall color (yellow to red) |
| Viburnum lantana | Wayfaringtree Viburnum | Red turning black | Upright, rounded; 10-15 ft tall, 10-12 ft wide | Tolerates dry soils and alkaline conditions; berries change color as they ripen; very adaptable |
| Viburnum cassinoides | Witherod Viburnum | Green to pink to red to blue | Upright, rounded; 6-10 ft tall, 5-8 ft wide | Tolerates wet soils and shade; multi-colored berries in late summer; good fall color; native |
| Viburnum prunifolium | Blackhaw Viburnum | Blue-black, edible | Rounded to irregular; 12-15 ft tall, 8-12 ft wide | Drought tolerant once established; can be trained as small tree; excellent fall color (red-purple) |
| Viburnum rafinesquianum | Downy Arrowwood | Dark blue to black | Compact, rounded; 3-6 ft tall and wide | Good for smaller spaces; tolerates dry shade; native; less commonly available |
| Viburnum acerifolium | Mapleleaf Viburnum | Black | Low, spreading; 4-6 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide | Excellent for shade gardens; tolerates dry shade; pink-purple fall color; native understory plant |
General Notes for Zone 4 Viburnums
- Cross-pollination: Most viburnums benefit from having another viburnum nearby (ideally same species) for better berry production
- Wildlife value: All produce berries attractive to birds and support pollinators with spring flowers
- Deer resistance: Generally deer-resistant, though not completely deer-proof
- Hardiness: All listed are reliably hardy to zone 4 (some to zone 3)
- Bloom time: Most bloom in late spring (May-early June)
- Sun requirements: Most prefer full sun to part shade; exceptions noted above
Native Shrub Alternatives for Zone 4
Filling Similar Niches to Viburnums
For Wet Soils & Persistent Berries
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Berry/Fruit Color | Habit/Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aronia melanocarpa | Black Chokeberry | Black | Upright, suckering; 3-6 ft tall and wide | Tolerates wet to dry soils; spectacular fall color (red-purple); edible berries; very adaptable |
| Aronia arbutifolia | Red Chokeberry | Bright red, persistent | Upright; 6-10 ft tall, 3-5 ft wide | Tolerates wet soils; red berries persist into winter; excellent fall color |
| Ilex verticillata | Winterberry Holly | Bright red (or orange/yellow cultivars) | Upright, rounded; 6-10 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide | Needs wet to moist soils; spectacular winter display; requires male pollinator nearby; deciduous holly |
| Cornus sericea | Red-osier Dogwood | White | Spreading; 6-9 ft tall, 8-12 ft wide | Tolerates wet soils and flooding; red winter stems; excellent for naturalizing; very tough |
For Medium to Large Specimens (8-15 ft)
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Berry/Fruit Color | Habit/Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelanchier alnifolia | Saskatoon Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Upright; 6-15 ft tall, 6-15 ft wide | Adaptable soils; beautiful white spring flowers; edible berries; fall color; can be multi-stemmed |
| Amelanchier canadensis | Shadblow Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Upright; 6-20 ft tall, 10-15 ft wide | Tolerates wet soils; early spring blooms; excellent fall color (orange-red) |
| Amelanchier laevis | Allegheny Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Upright, often multi-stemmed; 15-25 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide | Smooth leaves (bronze when emerging); very showy flowers; excellent orange-red fall color; can be grown as tree or large shrub |
| Amelanchier arborea | Downy Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Upright, tree-like; 15-25 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide | Fuzzy young leaves; among earliest spring bloomers; good fall color; more tree-like habit |
| Amelanchier sanguinea | Roundleaf Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Upright, rounded; 6-10 ft tall, 6-8 ft wide | Rounded leaves; hardy to zone 3; compact form good for smaller spaces; less common but very hardy |
| Amelanchier bartramiana | Mountain Serviceberry, Oblong-fruit Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Upright; 3-10 ft tall, 3-6 ft wide | Hardy to zone 3; alpine/northern species; smaller stature; good for cold, exposed sites; less commonly available |
| Prunus virginiana | Chokecherry | Dark red to black, edible | Upright, suckering; 10-20 ft tall, 8-15 ft wide | Very adaptable; white fragrant spring flowers; edible fruit (astringent raw, good cooked); forms thickets; extremely hardy |
| Prunus pensylvanica | Pin Cherry, Fire Cherry | Bright red, edible | Upright, short-lived; 15-30 ft tall, 15-25 ft wide | Pioneer species; loves disturbed sites and full sun; fast-growing but short-lived (20-30 years); glossy red bark; birds love the fruit |
| Prunus americana | American Plum | Red to yellow, edible | Rounded, thicket-forming; 10-20 ft tall, 10-20 ft wide | Adaptable soils; fragrant white flowers; edible plums; forms colonies; good for naturalizing; very hardy |
| Prunus nigra | Canada Plum | Red to yellow, edible | Rounded; 15-25 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide | More tree-like than P. americana; fragrant spring flowers; edible plums; orange-red fall color; native to northern regions |
| Sambucus canadensis | American Elderberry | Dark purple-black, edible | Upright, spreading; 5-12 ft tall, 5-12 ft wide | Prefers moist soils; large white flower clusters; berries for wildlife and jams; fast growing |
| Physocarpus opulifolius | Ninebark | Red turning brown | Upright, arching; 5-10 ft tall, 4-8 ft wide | Very adaptable; exfoliating bark; many cultivars available; tough and drought tolerant once established |
For Shade & Woodland Gardens
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Berry/Fruit Color | Habit/Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamamelis virginiana | Witch Hazel | Capsules (not showy) | Upright, vase-shaped; 15-20 ft tall, 15-20 ft wide | Tolerates shade; fragrant yellow fall flowers; excellent yellow fall foliage; unique blooming time |
| Lindera benzoin | Spicebush | Red (on female plants) | Rounded; 6-12 ft tall, 6-12 ft wide | Prefers moist, shaded sites; aromatic foliage; yellow fall color; host plant for swallowtail butterflies |
| Corylus americana | American Hazelnut | Edible nuts | Rounded, suckering; 8-15 ft tall, 8-15 ft wide | Tolerates part shade; edible nuts (if you beat the squirrels); good for naturalizing |
For Smaller Spaces (3-6 ft)
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Berry/Fruit Color | Habit/Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelanchier stolonifera | Running Serviceberry | Purple-black, edible | Low, stoloniferous; 3-6 ft tall, spreading | Spreads by runners; white spring flowers; good for slopes and naturalizing; tolerates dry shade |
| Comptonia peregrina | Sweet Fern | Nutlets (not showy) | Low, spreading; 2-4 ft tall, 4-8 ft wide | Dry, poor soils; aromatic foliage; nitrogen-fixing; excellent for difficult sites |
| Rhus aromatica | Fragrant Sumac | Red, fuzzy | Low, spreading; 2-6 ft tall, 6-10 ft wide | Drought tolerant; aromatic foliage; good fall color; excellent for slopes and erosion control |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | Buttonbush | Round seed balls | Rounded; 6-12 ft tall, 4-8 ft wide | Needs wet soils; unique spherical white flowers; attracts butterflies; good for rain gardens |
For Dry, Challenging Sites
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Berry/Fruit Color | Habit/Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prunus pumila | Sand Cherry | Dark purple | Low, spreading; 1-6 ft tall, 6-8 ft wide | Sandy, dry soils; edible fruit; white spring flowers; very tough |
| Shepherdia canadensis | Buffaloberry, Soapberry | Red or yellow | Upright; 3-7 ft tall, 3-6 ft wide | Very drought tolerant; nitrogen-fixing; silver foliage; good for naturalized areas |
General Advantages of These Natives
- Wildlife Support: Native shrubs support 10-50x more caterpillar species than non-natives, providing essential food for birds
- Adaptation: Better adapted to local climate extremes, pests, and diseases
- Low Maintenance: Generally require less intervention once established
- Ecological Function: Support native pollinators, beneficial insects, and food webs
- No Invasive Risk: Won’t escape cultivation and displace native plant communities