Q: Are viburnum deciduous or evergreen? My gardening books list various species in both categories but my gardening friends and folks at the nurseries insist they are all evergreen. I’m so confused! Thanks for your help. I’ve downloaded much of your gardening information off the internet and it has been very helpful so far.

A: The gardening books are sometimes confusing because they are not entirely dealing with Florida. Viburnum is generally classified as an evergreen although one viburnum called the Rusty Black Haw is deciduous. Viburnum tolerates a wide variety of soils from alkaline to acidic. It adapts well to different light conditions from full sun or partial shade, which makes it a great plant to use as a hedge. Viburnum produces many pinkish-white, fragrant, early spring flowers, followed by ornamental blue-black fruit which attract birds. Young shrubs grow mostly upright, eventually spreading slightly to form a vase shape. Although old plants reach to about 20 feet tall, most grow no taller than about 12 feet. The upright, dense, evergreen form makes it a good shrub for background, barrier or screen plantings, especially if there is not much room for a wide spreading plant. Stems are strong, keeping the plant upright, even when in flower. This is a terrific plant that can be grown in all regions of Florida. Check out: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/VIBTINA.PDF

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