About Viburnum rhytidophyllum Hemsl. ex Forbes & Hemsl.
Viburnum rhytidophyllum, commonly known as leatherleaf viburnum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Viburnaceae. It is native to Asia. This vigorous, coarsely textured evergreen shrub has an upright growth habit. It produces 8-inch (20 cm) long, lustrous, deeply veined oval leaves, with dark blue-green upper surfaces and pale green undersides. Its leaf stems are fuzzy brown. In spring, fragrant creamy-white flowers bloom in clustered formations. Blue berries form in June, plump as they develop through September, and mature into glossy black fruit. Mature plants reach 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) in both height and width. This plant can grow as an evergreen shrub or small tree with a suckering habit. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, have a crinkled texture, are downy on the undersides, and have less downy covering on the upper surface. It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant, valued for its evergreen foliage and ability to tolerate deep shade.
