Find Your Perfect Plants at The Green Leaf Nursery Nursery

 Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) is a premier Florida native that earned the nickname "Florida Snow" for its explosion of small white flowers in early spring. It is one of the most versatile plants for the Southeast, functioning as anything from a tiny foundation shrub to a 20-foot specimen tree depending on the variety.

Because this species is so popular, it has been bred into several distinct forms for different landscape needs:

• Dwarf Cultivars (2–5 ft): Varieties like 'Mrs. Schiller's Delight' or 'Densa' are perfect as low-maintenance alternatives to Boxwood. They stay small and compact, making them ideal for foundation plantings or low formal hedges.
• Medium Shrubs (6–12 ft): Cultivars like 'Whorled Class' or 'Select' are great for mid-sized privacy screens. They are naturally dense, providing excellent "stop-and-hide" cover for nesting songbirds like cardinals.
• Small Trees (15–25 ft): The standard species can be trained into a multi-trunked small tree. It develops a beautiful, spreading crown and smooth bark that adds architectural interest to the garden.

• Sunlight: Thrives in full sun to partial shade. For the heaviest bloom (that "snowy" look), full sun is best.
• Watering: Highly adaptable. It is naturally found in swamp margins and wet woods, so it handles wet soil well, but once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant.
• Soil: Prefers acidic to slightly alkaline sandy or loamy soil.
• Pruning: It handles heavy shearing very well. If you are using it as a hedge, prune it after the spring flowering is finished to avoid cutting off next year’s buds.

• Pollinators: It is a critical nectar source in early spring and serves as a larval host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly.
• Wildlife: The flowers turn into small berries that transition from red to a shiny black in the fall—a favorite for local birds.
• Hurricane Resistance: It is noted for its high wind resistance, making it a safe choice for Florida landscapes.

Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring (February–April).

Foliage: Evergreen; small, glossy dark green leaves.

Hardiness; USDA Zones 7–11.