Viburnum vs Hydrangea: Flowers Plus Berries Plus Care
Viburnum vs hydrangea hinges on fruit, flower color and pruning. Clemson Cooperative Extension says colorful fruit adds fall color on many viburnums. Bigleaf hydrangea lacks showy fruit, but its flower color shifts with soil pH.
The short answer
Pick viburnum for spring flowers plus fall fruit for birds. Pick bigleaf hydrangea for summer mopheads or lacecaps. Clemson Cooperative Extension says viburnum flowers are mostly creamy white. Hydrangea blooms turn blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. Both are pruned just after bloom.
How do the flowers differ?
NC State Extension says viburnum flowers appear in spring as lacecap, domed or snowball shaped clusters in white to cream. Clemson says some are sweetly fragrant and some are unpleasantly scented.
Bigleaf hydrangea blooms in late spring and summer. NC State says it forms ball shaped mopheads or flat lacecaps ringed by larger flowers.
Hydrangea colors range from white to pink, blue or purple depending on the soil’s acidity. Viburnum color remains mostly white to pink.
Which shrub has berries?
Viburnum. Clemson Cooperative Extension says its fruits can be yellow, orange, red, pink, blue or black. Each is a single seeded drupe.
NC State Extension advises against deadheading viburnum flowers, or you will lose the berry like drupes that follow.
Viburnum leaves also color in fall, from glossy red to scarlet or purple. Bigleaf hydrangea is instead grown for its long summer color.
| Trait | Viburnum | Bigleaf hydrangea |
|---|---|---|
| Bloom time | Spring | Late spring plus summer |
| Flower color | Creamy white to pink | White, pink, blue or purple |
| Fruit | Colorful drupes | None of note |
| Height | 2 to 30 feet | 4 to 12 feet |
| Prune | Just after bloom | After flowering, before August 1 |
Source: Clemson Cooperative Extension plus NC State Extension.
Do they need the same pruning?
The timing is alike. Clemson says to wait until just after bloom to prune viburnum if you want to preserve flowers. Height and spread can be regulated with selective thinning in early spring.
Bigleaf hydrangea flowers on old wood. Clemson says to prune after flowering and avoid pruning after August 1 so you do not remove next year’s buds.
NC State Extension says some hydrangea cultivars rebloom later in summer on new growth. Use clean, sharp bypass pruners on both shrubs.
How to: step by step
- Decide whether fall fruit or summer color matters more.
- Check light since needs vary by species.
- Plant viburnum in moist, slightly acidic soil.
- Give bigleaf hydrangea afternoon shade.
- Prune both just after flowering.
- Leave viburnum flowers in place for fruit.
Troubleshooting
No viburnum fruit: a single cultivar. Plant two of the same species.
No hydrangea blooms: late pruning. Stop pruning by August 1.
Pink hydrangea not blue: alkaline soil. Aim for pH 5.0 to 5.5.
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Sources
- Viburnum, Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC
- Viburnum, NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Hydrangea care in South Carolina, Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC
- Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
FAQ
Do viburnums need a partner for berries?
Often. Clemson Cooperative Extension says heavy fruit set is only reliable when at least 2 different cultivars or seedlings of the same species are planted together. Plant two compatible viburnums near each other. NC State Extension adds that removing spent flowers will cost you the berry like drupes that follow.
Can hydrangea color change?
Yes, on bigleaf hydrangea. Clemson Cooperative Extension says flower color follows soil pH, which affects aluminum in the soil. Flowers are blue in acidic soil of pH 5.0 to 5.5 and pink in alkaline soil of pH 6.0 and up. Lime raises pH for pink flowers.
Which grows in more shade?
Bigleaf hydrangea. NC State Extension says it performs well in dappled sunlight, partial shade or deep shade. Clemson says it prefers morning sun with afternoon shade. Clemson says many viburnums flower more in full sun, though light needs vary from full sun to mostly shade by species.
Do birds eat viburnum berries?
Yes. Clemson Cooperative Extension says viburnum fruit clusters are popular with birds and other wildlife, and the flowers attract many butterflies. NC State Extension says the round drupes that follow the flowers can be showy and provide food for the birds. Skip deadheading so the fruit can form.
How big do they grow?
Viburnums vary widely. Clemson Cooperative Extension says they range from 2 to 30 feet tall, and NC State Extension puts most at 4 to 20 feet. Clemson says hydrangeas grow 4 to 12 feet tall depending on the variety. Match the mature height to the space you have.
