Viewing comments posted by ViburnumValley

This evergreen holly is restricted to parts of Florida. It is closely allied to Ilex cassine and Ilex opaca, and there are indications that this plant is actually a hybrid.

Viburnum cassinoides is an excellent native shrub that is simply beset with an unfortunate array of infinitely forgettable common names. It is variously called Witherod (Withe-rod) Viburnum, Swamp Viburnum, Appalachian Tea Viburnum, Swamp Blackhaw, False Paraguay Tea, and Wild Raisin - all names found in the professional literature. Here I see comments now use the terminology of Possum Haw, which is synonymous with Viburnum nudum (Possumhaw Viburnum)!

Ultimately, this promotes confusion instead of knowledge. I welcome additional commentary here from gardeners and plantspersons that have grown this species and its closely related cousins, to amplify experience about their common and contrasting traits.

While Viburnum cassinoides is found in some southern states, it is primarily located at cooler higher elevation locations in the Appalachian mountain regions. It is the more northerly species (ranging from Manitoba and Minnesota to Newfoundland) compared to Viburnum nudum, which is mostly found in southerly and coastal states in lowland riparian situations.

This is a species that deserves greater landscape use across eastern North America, in the regions and zones where it is best acclimated - zones 3-6 in general, and further south to zone 8 with special conditions of elevation, coolness, and moisture.

This evergreen viburnum is a relatively new introduction to the trade. Handsome Devil™ is borne of a cross between Viburnum odoratissimum 'Awabuki' x Viburnum x hillieri 'Winton'. Like most all viburnums, it will fruit best with a pollinating partner plant that is not identical. A plant of Viburnum odoratissimum will likely perform well in this role.

With adequate cross-pollination, Handsome Devil™ will set copious red fruit which will mature to black in fall.