Compact European Cranberrybush Viburnum

Compact European Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum opulus 'Compactum')

Compact European Cranberrybush Viburnum is a dense, rounded shrub that gives you privacy and a finished border look in a manageable size. In spring, it adds a fresh layer of white bloom that brightens the landscape without feeling fussy. As the season turns, clusters of red fruit and colorful fall foliage extend the show and keep the planting looking intentional. It is a reliable choice when you want structure, seasonal interest, and a shrub that fills in well.

Distinctive Features

This compact selection features maple-like, three-lobed leaves that stay rich green through summer and often shift to pink, purple, and red tones in fall. In spring, flat lacecap-style clusters of white flowers appear at the ends of branches for a crisp, classic look. Showy scarlet-red fruit follows and matures in early fall, adding another season of interest and potential wildlife value. The habit is naturally dense and rounded, making it easy to use as a low hedge or substantial foundation shrub.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best flowering and fruiting in full sun.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil is ideal, and it adapts to many soil types when drainage is good.
• Water: Moderate water to establish, then average moisture with deep watering during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Zones 3 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 4 to 6 feet tall and about 4 to 6 feet wide.
• Bloom Season: Spring.
• Fruit: Scarlet-red fruit ripens in early fall and may persist into fall depending on wildlife pressure.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant where the red fruit and fall color can be seen up close for a strong seasonal highlight.
• Low Screening: Use in groups to create a dense privacy layer without an oversized footprint.
• Informal Hedges: Plant in a line for a full, rounded hedge that looks polished without rigid shearing.
• Foundation Planting: Use along broad walls where the dense habit adds structure and visual weight.
• Shrub Borders: Mix with evergreens and perennials to add backbone and extend seasonal interest.
• Wildlife Plantings: Include in habitat borders where flowers support pollinators and fruit can support birds.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune right after flowering if shaping is needed, since next season's bloom forms on older wood.
• Watering: Water regularly the first growing season, then water during drought to keep growth steady and reduce stress.
• Mulching: Mulch to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch pulled back from the stems.
• Feeding: Feed lightly in early spring only if growth is weak, since average soils are usually sufficient.
• Deer Resistance: Browsing can be variable, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.

Why Choose Compact European Cranberrybush Viburnum?

• Compact Structure: Dense, rounded growth delivers screening value in a manageable size.
• Spring Bloom: White lacecap flower clusters brighten the landscape and support pollinators.
• Red Fruit: Scarlet berries add late-season color and another layer of interest.
• Fall Color: Foliage often shifts into pink, purple, and red tones for a strong seasonal finish.
• Easy Versatility: Works as a hedge, foundation shrub, or border backbone with straightforward care.

Give Compact European Cranberrybush Viburnum sun to part shade, steady moisture while it establishes, and enough space to round out. It looks especially strong when planted in repeating groups, where the dense habit reads as a clean, intentional design element. With simple post-bloom pruning and occasional deep watering in dry weather, it provides structure and seasonal payoff for years.