Field ManualAll plants

Fragrant viburnum
Viburnum farreri Stearn
Pet & Human Safety
People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
ASPCA has no page for this plant. Do not treat as pet-safe.
PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.
Poison control
If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.
Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.
Naturalist Lore
Historical Background & Breeding Lore
The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonCare
- Hardiness zones
Oregon State: hardy to USDA zone 5. Morton Arboretum: zones 5 to 8 (Northern Illinois to zone 8). Trees and Shrubs Online: "absolutely hardy", flowers bear 10-12 degrees of frost
- Light
Full sun to part shade, in a protected site (Morton Arboretum).
- Water needs
moderate moderate is a plain-language reading of Morton Arboretum (moist, well-drained soil; mulch to conserve moisture). Always finger-test two inches down.
- Mature size
US: Oregon State: to 10 ft (3 m) tall and similar spread; Morton Arboretum: 8 to 12 ft high and wide; cultivar Nanum 3-4 ft; UK: Trees and Shrubs Online: 10 ft or more high and as much in diameter
How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.
Get the app: coming soonAnatomy & Guilds
Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics
How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.
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Field Doctor
What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.
Get the app: coming soonVintage Plates
Vintage Plates
Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.
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