Cardinal Candy Viburnum

Cardinal Candy Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke')

Cardinal Candy Viburnum is a compact, dense shrub that brings privacy and polished structure to borders without taking over the yard. It flowers in spring, then shifts into a long season of bright red berries that keep the plant looking lively as the garden cools down. The textured foliage holds a rich green look through summer and finishes with warm fall tones for extra seasonal payoff. If you want a shrub that looks intentional from spring through winter interest, this one delivers with straightforward care.

Distinctive Features

This upright-rounded viburnum is prized for its heavy clusters of glossy red fruit and its bold, wrinkled leaves that add texture even when it is not in bloom. Creamy white, lightly fragrant flowers appear in late spring in rounded clusters, followed by bright red berries that develop in late summer to early fall and can persist well into winter. The foliage is dark green and textured through summer, then shifts to bronze, burgundy, and russet tones in fall. Its naturally dense branching makes it especially useful when you want a smaller shrub that still reads substantial in the landscape.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best flowering, fruiting, and density in full sun.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil is ideal, and it adapts to many soils as long as drainage is good.
• Water: Average moisture, watering consistently to establish and during extended dry periods for best performance.
• USDA Zones: Zones 5 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 4 to 5 feet tall and about 4 to 5 feet wide.
• Habit: Dense, bushy, upright-rounded, and multi-stemmed.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant where the bright red berry clusters can be seen in fall and early winter for a standout seasonal highlight.
• Low Screening: Use in rows or repeating groups to create a compact privacy layer with a full, finished look.
• Foundation Planting: Place along broad walls where the dense habit adds structure and keeps beds looking intentional.
• Shrub Borders: Mix with evergreens and fall-color shrubs to build layered texture and long-season interest.
• Wildlife Support: Include where birds can benefit from fruit and the dense branching provides cover.
• Woodland Edge: Use at the edge of open shade where the foliage texture and berry display carry the planting.

Low Maintenance Care

• Pruning: Prune immediately after flowering if shaping is needed, since blooms form on older wood and late pruning can reduce fruit.
• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during the first growing season, then water deeply during drought to support berry set and fall color.
• Mulching: Mulch to hold moisture and protect roots, keeping mulch pulled back from the stems.
• Feeding: Apply a light, balanced shrub fertilizer in early spring only if growth is weak.
• Pollination: Plant near another compatible linden viburnum if you want the most consistent and abundant berry display.

Why Choose Cardinal Candy Viburnum?

• Red Berry Show: Bright red fruit clusters create bold late-season color and can persist well into winter.
• Compact Structure: Dense branching delivers screening value in a smaller, easier-to-place size.
• Textured Foliage: Wrinkled, deep green leaves add visual weight and help beds look more finished.
• Seasonal Range: Spring flowers, fall fruit, and warm autumn leaf tones keep interest moving through the year.
• Deer Resistance: Foliage is often less appealing to deer than many flowering shrubs.

For a compact shrub that still brings real seasonal payoff, Cardinal Candy Viburnum is a dependable choice. Give it sun, moisture while it establishes, and a quick post-bloom touch-up if it needs shaping. Used in repeating groups or as a berry-rich anchor, it adds structure and color that make the landscape feel complete.