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Blue Muffin® Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum 'Christom'
Blue Muffin Viburnum is prized for its compact size, showy white flowers, and striking blue berries, making it perfect for small gardens, mixed borders, and wildlife-friendly landscapes. Its deer-resistant and low-maintenance nature, along with its vibrant fall foliage, ensures year-round beauty and ecological benefits, ideal for hedges and privacy screens.
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Blue Muffin Viburnum Shrubs for Sale Online
Blue Muffin Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum ‘Christom’) is a compact, deciduous shrub that brings multi-season interest to any landscape with its vibrant blue berries and beautiful white blooms. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8, this viburnum grows to a manageable size of 5-7 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for smaller gardens, mixed borders, or as a focal point in any landscape. In late spring to early summer, Blue Muffin Viburnum produces clusters of creamy white flowers, which attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing the biodiversity of your garden.
One of the most striking features of Blue Muffin Viburnum is its abundant display of bright blue berries in late summer and fall, which provide both a stunning visual contrast to its glossy green foliage and a valuable food source for birds and wildlife. These berries, combined with the shrub's rich red fall foliage, create a beautiful, dynamic display in your garden throughout the changing seasons. Its compact size and upright growth habit make Blue Muffin Viburnum a versatile option for hedges, privacy screens, or as a stand-alone specimen.
In addition to its beauty, Blue Muffin Viburnum is low-maintenance and adaptable to a variety of soil types, thriving in full sun to partial shade. It is also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for gardens where wildlife is prevalent. Whether you’re looking to attract birds or add four-season interest to your landscape, Blue Muffin Viburnum provides a perfect blend of ornamental appeal and ecological benefits with minimal care.
| Hardiness Zone: | 3-8 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 5 to 7 feet |
| Mature Width: | 5 to 7 feet |
| Classification: | Broad leaved deciduous shrub, summer flowering |
| Sunlight: | Full to partial sun |
| Habit: | Upright, densely branched |
| Foliage: | Dark green |
| Flower Color: | White |
| Pruning Season: | Prune in late winter, flowers on new wood |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as a focal point in the mixed border, mass planting, or a specimen planting |
How to Care for Blue Muffin® Viburnum
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Blue Muffin Viburnum for years to come!
How Do I Plant Blue Muffin Viburnum?
To plant Blue Muffin Viburnum, choose a location with well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade, as this shrub thrives in these conditions. Begin by digging a hole that is twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball to give the roots plenty of room to spread. Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface, then backfill with soil, gently firming it around the roots. After planting, water thoroughly to help the plant settle in and establish its root system. Space multiple Blue Muffin Viburnum plants about 5-7 feet apart to allow room for their mature size and to create an attractive hedge or privacy screen. Mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and prevent weeds, particularly during the first growing season when the shrub is developing its root system. Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during hot, dry periods. Once established, Blue Muffin Viburnum becomes more drought-tolerant and requires less frequent watering. With proper planting and care, this compact viburnum will reward you with beautiful white blooms in spring, followed by vibrant blue berries in late summer, making it a perfect choice for adding color and wildlife interest to your garden.
How Do I Water Blue Muffin Viburnum?
To properly water Blue Muffin Viburnum, ensure the soil remains consistently moist, especially during its first growing season to help establish a strong root system. Water deeply once or twice a week, allowing the water to penetrate the soil and reach the roots, rather than frequent shallow watering. This deep watering encourages the development of a robust root system, which is essential for the shrub’s overall health and drought tolerance. It’s important to avoid waterlogging, so ensure the soil is well-drained to prevent root rot. Mulching around the base of the plant will help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature, reducing the need for frequent watering. Once Blue Muffin Viburnum is established, it becomes more drought-tolerant and requires less frequent watering. In most cases, natural rainfall will be sufficient, but during extended dry periods or extreme heat, supplemental watering is necessary to maintain the shrub’s health and vibrant appearance. Check the soil regularly, and if the top 1-2 inches are dry, it’s time to water. Proper watering not only supports lush growth and abundant white blooms in the spring but also promotes the development of its signature blue berries in late summer, which attract birds and add visual interest to your garden.
How Do I Fertilize Blue Muffin Viburnum?
To fertilize Blue Muffin Viburnum, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, just as new growth begins to emerge. A general-purpose 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 fertilizer provides essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, promoting healthy foliage, strong root development, and abundant blooms. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the base of the shrub, keeping it away from the trunk, and water thoroughly to help the nutrients penetrate the soil and reach the root zone. Fertilizing once a year in spring is typically sufficient to support Blue Muffin Viburnum throughout the growing season. For an organic approach, you can top-dress the soil with compost or well-rotted manure in early spring. This will improve soil structure while slowly releasing nutrients over time, helping to promote vibrant growth and colorful berries. Be sure not to over-fertilize, as too much nitrogen can result in lush leaf growth at the expense of flowers and berries. With proper fertilization, Blue Muffin Viburnum will produce its signature white blooms in spring, followed by striking blue berries in late summer, making it a standout in your landscape while providing a valuable food source for wildlife.
How Do I Prune Blue Muffin Viburnum?
To prune Blue Muffin Viburnum, the best time is immediately after the shrub finishes flowering in late spring or early summer. Since this viburnum blooms on old wood, pruning after the flowering period ensures you don’t remove the buds that will form next year’s flowers. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches to promote the plant's overall health. Use clean, sharp pruning shears and make cuts just above a healthy bud or at the base of the branch. Light shaping can also be done to maintain the desired size and structure, but avoid heavy pruning as it may reduce berry production. If your Blue Muffin Viburnum becomes too dense, you can thin out some of the older branches to improve air circulation and light penetration, which encourages better flowering and healthier growth. Be sure to maintain the shrub's natural shape, as its compact, upright growth habit is part of its appeal. Regular, light pruning keeps the shrub looking neat and helps it produce abundant blooms and berries. Proper pruning also enhances the production of its vibrant blue berries, which appear in late summer and attract birds, adding beauty and ecological value to your landscape.
