What soil does Leatherleaf viburnum grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Leatherleaf viburnum hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Leatherleaf viburnum be planted?

Plant it at least 3.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Leatherleaf viburnum be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 2 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 1.5 plants per metre.

How much water does Leatherleaf viburnum need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

Leatherleaf viburnum

Viburnum rhytidophyllum

Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about PLN 19.

Illustration of Leatherleaf viburnum — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A large evergreen shrub with long, deeply wrinkled dark green leaves that screens all year, so it is excellent as a tall, loosely kept screen or backdrop. It bears creamy white flower heads in May and June, then red berries that ripen black, but it usually fruits well only with a second plant nearby. In hard frost the leaves droop and curl, which is a natural defence; plant it sheltered from wind and from winter midday sun, and prune after flowering.

Watch out for

In windy spots exposed to winter sun the foliage scorches, and in a hard winter shoots can die back; it can then be cut back hard in spring. The leaves wilt in drought, yet it does not tolerate waterlogging. It is resistant to viburnum leaf beetle. The fine hairs on the leaf undersides and shoots come loose during pruning and irritate skin, eyes and throat.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 2.5 m × 2.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 2.5 m
Ultimate size	2–4.5 m × 2–4.5 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 3.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	200 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about PLN 19

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. PLN 19

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 26, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Hedge plants Evergreen hedge plants Plants for screening Evergreen plants Low-maintenance shrubs

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Planting a hedge: how many plants per metre, and what it costs Most hedge plants go in at 2-4 plants per metre: Leyland cypress 2, cherry laurel and photinia 2.5 (40 cm apart), yew 3, hornbeam 3.5, privet and beech 4. The plants go in one row, 80 cm from the fence, in autumn or early spring. What the hedge costs depends most on the size of the plants: the table works it out at today's shop prices in your country, for the length of your own hedge.

Looks good next to it

Alpine betony

Stachys monieri

Large-flowered clematis

Clematis Large-flowered Group

Tall moor grass

Molinia arundinacea