Viburnum Suspensum Hedges, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Sandankwa viburnum, sold as viburnum suspensum, is a dense, leathery-leaved hedge shrub that thrives in Southwest Florida and suits privacy screens, foundation backdrops and clipped formal lines. Fragrant white to pale pink flower clusters open from winter into spring, and plants reach 6 to 12 ft if left unclipped. Planted prices come by text, usually within the hour during the day, and the 3 gallon size is delivered, planted and watered in by our crew.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Moderate; steady moisture and well-drained soil
- Salt:
- Moderate, best a little back from direct salt spray
Viburnum Suspensum sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Viburnum Suspensum | 3 Gallon |
Viburnum Suspensum in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 12 ft tall, 5 to 8 ft wide if left unclipped; easy to hold at 4 to 6 ft
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; steady moisture and well-drained soil
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate, best a little back from direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy; SW Florida cold does not bother it, though a rare hard freeze can burn leaf edges
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 3 to 4 ft on center for a hedge, up to 5 ft for a looser screen
- Florida native
- No, native to East Asia
- Botanical name
- Viburnum suspensum
Where Viburnum Suspensum works in a SW Florida yard
Sandankwa viburnum is a workhorse screen for the back of a bed, along a fence, or in front of a wall you want to soften. Planted 3 to 4 ft apart it knits into a solid green hedge, and the winter flowers scent a patio or entry.
Clipped, it looks formal; left loose, it reads as an informal tropical backdrop. Dwarf ixora or hibiscus in front adds color, and liriope at the base finishes the line cleanly.
- Dense privacy hedge
- Foundation backdrop planting
- Clipped formal screens
- Fragrant winter-blooming border
How our crew plants it
Planting viburnum too deep invites root rot, so dig the hole twice as wide as the container, no deeper than the root ball, and set the top of the root ball level with or a half inch above the soil. Backfill with native sand, water in, and mulch 2 to 3 inches, pulled back from the stems.
Space 3 gallon plants 3 to 4 ft apart for a hedge. Lee and Collier rules allow extra water on new plantings; use it daily at first, then step down as roots take hold.
Care after planting
- Prune right after the flowers fade in spring, then lightly again in late summer to hold the shape, since shearing in winter cuts off the buds.
- Give established plants a deep soak at the roots in dry spells, November to May, and keep sprinklers off the leaves to cut leaf spot.
- Feed in March and again in October with a slow-release shrub fertilizer that includes micronutrients, because nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer is banned in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island from June 1 to September 30.
- Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches deep and off the stems.
What to watch for
- Spider mites, thrips and scale show up in dry weather and on stressed plants, so check leaf undersides in spring and rinse or treat early.
- Wet feet cause root rot, so plant on well-drained ground and skip low spots where rain pools.
Viburnum Suspensum questions we hear
How far apart should I plant viburnum suspensum for a hedge?+
Plant 3 gallon viburnums 3 to 4 ft apart, center to center, for a hedge that closes within a year or two. Go to 5 ft for a looser screen you will not clip tight. Leave 3 ft between the hedge and a wall or fence so you can reach both sides for trimming.
Is viburnum suspensum the same as sweet viburnum?+
No, they are two different viburnums used the same way. Viburnum suspensum, or sandankwa, is the smaller one at 6 to 12 ft, while sweet viburnum, Viburnum odoratissimum, grows taller, often 15 ft or more, with larger, glossier leaves. Both make dense hedges with fragrant flowers, so choose by the height you want.
Is viburnum suspensum salt tolerant?+
Moderately. It tolerates salty breezes in most canal-lot and inland yards, but heavy direct salt spray and salty irrigation water scorch the leaf edges. On open-water exposures, put a more salt-tolerant shrub, such as buttonwood or cocoplum, in front and tuck the viburnum behind it.
When does viburnum suspensum bloom, and is it fragrant?+
It blooms from winter into early spring with clusters of small, fragrant white to pale pink flowers. Prune after the bloom fades, because shearing in winter cuts off the buds. Plant it near a patio or entry if you want to enjoy the scent.
Can I grow viburnum suspensum in shade?+
It tolerates part shade well and will grow in fairly deep shade, but flowers and density drop as the light fades. For the thickest hedge and the best bloom, give it at least 4 to 6 hours of sun a day.
How fast does viburnum suspensum grow?+
At a steady, moderate pace. A 3 gallon plant set 3 to 4 ft apart usually knits into a solid hedge within a year or two with regular water and feeding. Trim it two or three times a year to keep it dense, and feed it through the growing season so the lower branches stay leafy.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Viburnum Suspensum
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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