Viburnum produces beautiful flower clusters, and it grows best under ideal conditions for water, sunlight, and soil.
So, what is the best soil for viburnum? The best soil for viburnum is fertile, moist, and well drained, with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.5 (although they can tolerate slightly alkaline soil up to 8.0 pH). Viburnum tolerates clay soil, and some varieties tolerate drought (if needed, a layer of mulch over soil helps to retain moisture).
Before you decide on a viburnum to plant, check the specific needs of that variety.
In this article, we’ll talk about the best soil for viburnum and how to improve soil that is not ideal.
Let’s get started.
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What Is The Best Soil For Viburnum? (Ideal Viburnum Soil Type)
The best soil for viburnum is:
- fertile, with plenty of nutrients (including nitrogen)
- moist, with enough water to keep the flowers looking good
- well drained, to avoid root rot due to soggy soil
- slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 (viburnum can also tolerate slightly alkaline soil up to 8.0 pH).
Remember that many viburnum species tolerate a range of soil types. So, don’t worry too much if your soil isn’t perfect – you can always make some amendments:
- add organic material (to improve drainage in clay soil, or increase water retention in sandy soil)
- add nutrients (use compost or fertilizer)
- reduce pH (use elemental sulfur, iron sulfate, or aluminum sulfate)
- increase pH (use lime or dolomite lime)
Viburnum can also do well in clay soil – just watch out for signs of root rot, and reduce watering during the rainy season.
Will Viburnum Grow In Wet Soil?
Most viburnums will grow in wet soil (as long as it isn’t consistently soggy and lacking air). Some viburnums that tolerate places with wet soil include:
- Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
- Viburnum opulus (European Cranberrybush)
- Viburnum trilobum (American Cranberrybush)
Will Viburnum Grow In Dry Soil?
There are viburnums that grow in dry soil and that will tolerate drought, including:
- Viburnum bracteatum (Bracted Viburnum)
- Viburnum dilatatum (Linden Viburnum)
- Viburnum lantana (Wayfaringtree Viburnum)
- Viburnum odoratissimum (Sweet Viburnum)
- Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum)
You can find a more extensive list of drought tolerant viburnums here.
Will Viburnum Grow In Sandy Soil?
Viburnum will grow in sandy soil – as long as there are enough nutrients present. If not, you can amend the soil with fertilizer as needed (get a soil test first to make sure!)
One problem with sandy soil is that it drains fast. In a hot, dry, and windy area, this can put plants under water stress.
To avoid this, use drip irrigation to provide consistent water without over watering. Add a layer of mulch over the soil to retain water.
Will Viburnum Grow In Clay Soil?
Viburnum will grow in clay soil – as long as it can drain well enough. Otherwise, you will end up with root rot (due to a lack of air in the soil, caused by too much water).
If you have clay soil that drains poorly, you can amend the soil with compost or aged manure. This will add organic material and improve soil drainage.
(You can learn more about how to improve soil drainage, such as with the use of elevation, here).
Another option is to grow viburnum inside a container. The soil in a container will dry out faster after watering or rain.
Conclusion
Now you know the best soil type for viburnum (moist, fertile, and slightly acidic!) and how to make sure your plant gets what it needs to grow well.
I hope you found this article helpful. If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.
Read these articles to learn about viburnum’s cold tolerance, sun requirements, and water needs.
Viburnum has lots of different flower colors, depending on the variety – you can learn more here.
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~Jonathon