Overview

Introduce a touch of natural elegance and year-round beauty to your landscape with the Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant. This exceptional cultivar of Viburnum dentatum, known scientifically as ‘Chicago Lustre’, is celebrated for its remarkably shiny, dark green leaves that maintain their lustrous appeal throughout the growing season. As a multi-stemmed shrub, it develops an attractive upright and rounded form, maturing to an impressive height of 10-12 feet and a spread of 8-10 feet. Ideal for creating natural hedges, privacy screens, or as a vibrant specimen plant, this Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is a resilient and low-maintenance choice for gardeners seeking both beauty and functionality. Its adaptability to various conditions makes it a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners, promising a stunning display with minimal effort.

The ‘Chicago Lustre’ cultivar is particularly prized for its dense branching and thick foliage, providing excellent habitat and food sources for local wildlife, including birds drawn to its fruit. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this plant offers ecological benefits, contributing to a healthier garden ecosystem. Whether you are designing a new garden or enhancing an existing one, the Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is a superb addition that will provide enduring charm and vibrant greenery.

Key Benefits

The Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant offers a multitude of advantages for any garden, making it a highly desirable choice for various landscaping needs. Its robust nature and striking appearance contribute significantly to its popularity and functionality.

• Stunning Glossy Foliage: The most distinctive feature of the Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is its incredibly lustrous, dark green leaves. This glossy appearance provides a sophisticated backdrop for other plants and adds visual interest to the garden even when not in bloom. The foliage remains vibrant and attractive from spring through fall.
• Hardy & Adaptable: This resilient shrub thrives across a wide range of climates, specifically in USDA Zones 4-7. It tolerates various soil types and can adapt to both full sun and partial shade conditions, making it a versatile option for many garden settings.
• Multi-Season Interest: While primarily grown for its foliage, the plant also produces clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by dark blue berries in late summer. These berries are not only ornamental but also a valuable food source for birds, enhancing the ecological value of your garden.
• Excellent for Hedges & Screens: With its dense, upright, and rounded growth habit, the Viburnum dentatum Chicago Lustre is an ideal candidate for creating privacy screens, property borders, or a lush, informal hedge. Its substantial size at maturity offers significant coverage.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this shrub is remarkably easy to care for, requiring minimal pruning and being generally resistant to common pests and diseases. This makes arrowwood viburnum care straightforward and rewarding.
• Wildlife Attractor: The flowers attract pollinators, and the berries are a favorite of many bird species, turning your garden into a lively sanctuary.
• Drought Tolerance: While it appreciates consistent moisture, the ‘Chicago Lustre’ is relatively drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for water-wise landscaping.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper arrowwood viburnum care is essential to ensure your Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant thrives and reaches its full potential, providing years of beautiful glossy foliage. This hardy shrub is relatively low-maintenance, but understanding its basic needs will lead to the best results.

Sunlight Requirements: The ‘Chicago Lustre’ performs best when provided with at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, which encourages the strongest growth, best foliage color, and most abundant flowering and fruiting. While it can tolerate partial shade, too much shade may result in sparser foliage and reduced flower and berry production. Plant it in a location where it receives morning sun and some afternoon shade in hotter climates to prevent leaf scorch.

Watering Schedule and Soil Moisture: This viburnum prefers consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil. Water newly planted shrubs regularly to help them establish strong root systems. Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant but will benefit from supplemental watering during prolonged dry periods, especially in summer. Check the soil moisture by feeling the top inch or two; if it feels dry, it’s time to water. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.

Soil Type and Drainage: The Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is adaptable to a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, and sand, as long as the soil is well-draining. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and aeration. For sandy soils, compost will help retain moisture and nutrients. Good drainage is crucial for the health of the root system.

Temperature Range and USDA Hardiness Zone: This shrub is exceptionally cold hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 4-7. It can withstand winter temperatures down to -30°F (-34°C). In warmer zones, it typically maintains its foliage longer into the fall. No special winter protection is usually needed within its hardiness range.

Fertilization Schedule and Type: Fertilize your ‘Chicago Lustre’ viburnum in early spring before new growth appears. Use a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers and berries. A layer of organic compost applied around the base in spring can also provide a slow, steady release of nutrients.

Common Problems and Solutions: The Viburnum dentatum Chicago Lustre is generally resistant to most pests and diseases. Occasionally, aphids or viburnum leaf beetles may appear. Aphids can be controlled with a strong spray of water or insecticidal soap. Viburnum leaf beetles can be more problematic; remove affected leaves or consider systemic insecticides if infestations are severe. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues like powdery mildew, which can sometimes occur in humid conditions. Proper spacing and pruning can help mitigate these issues.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant, shipped in a one-gallon pot. Upon arrival, the plant will typically stand 2-3 feet tall, providing a healthy, well-branched specimen ready for planting. This shrub is known for its moderate to fast growth rate, quickly establishing itself in your garden. At maturity, it will reach an impressive height of 10-12 feet and an equal spread of 8-10 feet, creating a substantial presence in your landscape. Its dense, upright, and rounded habit makes it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or as a focal point. The plant will arrive with established roots within the one-gallon container, ensuring a smooth transition to your garden. Expect vibrant, glossy green foliage that provides year-round interest and contributes to its robust ornamental value.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant get? A: This shrub matures to a significant size, typically reaching 10-12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. Its substantial dimensions make it suitable for larger garden spaces or for creating privacy screens.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: Each Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is shipped in a one-gallon nursery pot. This pot size ensures the plant has a well-developed root system for successful transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is an outdoor shrub. It is not suitable for indoor cultivation as it requires outdoor conditions to thrive and complete its growth cycle.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth, best color, and flowering, this viburnum needs at least 5-6 hours of full sun daily. It can tolerate partial shade, but performance may be reduced.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, arrowwood viburnum care is relatively easy. Once established, it is a low-maintenance shrub, tolerant of various conditions and generally resistant to pests and diseases, making it a great choice for beginners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant will arrive in a one-gallon pot with healthy, established roots and vibrant foliage, ready for planting. We ensure careful packaging for safe transit.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This plant is very cold hardy and thrives in USDA Zones 4-7, meaning it will easily survive winters within this range. It is well-adapted to colder climates.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: The Viburnum dentatum Chicago Lustre can withstand winter temperatures down to -30°F (-34°C), making it a robust choice for cold regions.
• Q: Does this shrub produce flowers or berries? A: Yes, in late spring, it produces clusters of white flowers, which are followed by attractive dark blue berries in late summer. These berries are a food source for birds.
• Q: Can I use this plant for a hedge? A: Absolutely! With its dense, upright, and rounded growth habit, the Chicago Lustre Arrowwood Viburnum live plant is an excellent choice for creating privacy hedges, property borders, or screens.