Appearance

Growth form

It is an upright deciduous shrub that commonly grows 5–7 ft (1.5–2.1 m) tall and 3–5 ft (0.9–1.5 m) wide in cultivation.

Leaves

The opposite leaves are oval to lance-shaped, toothed, and hairy beneath. Their stalks are notably short.

Flowers

Small creamy white flowers form rounded clusters at the tips of the branches.

Flowering time

In U.S. gardens it flowers in spring, followed by red fruit from summer into fall.

Fruit

The fruit is a small red drupe that follows the spring flowers.

Look-alikes

linden viburnumViburnum dilatatum

Beech viburnum has especially short leaf stalks and smaller, narrower leaves. Linden viburnum tends to have broader leaves; a clear leaf photo helps more than a fruit photo.

Why they get mixed up · Both are East Asian viburnums with white flower clusters and red fruit, and both occur in U.S. cultivation.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• woodland edges
• Asian gardens
• plantings beside buildings

Range

It is native from central and southern China through Korea and Japan to Taiwan. In the United States it is grown as an ornamental shrub.

Preferred conditions

It grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soil.

Name and classification

About the name

Part of this species was once called Viburnum ichangense.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• Gardeners use it as a hedge or in Asian-style plantings.