Walter's Viburnum, a Native Evergreen Hedge, Delivered and Planted
Florida native, evergreen and hurricane wind resistant, Walter's viburnum makes a good hedge or screen in Southwest Florida, with small glossy leaves, white spring flowers and berries that birds eat. It takes sun or shade and wet or dry spells, but it dislikes salt. Pots are 3 and 7 gallon, and our crew plants and waters them in.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade; takes full shade
- Water:
- Moderate; tolerates wet spells and moderate drought
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; not for seawalls or spray zones
Walters Viburnum
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Walters Viburnum 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 |
|---|---|
| Walters Viburnum | 3 Gallon, 7 Gallon |
Walters Viburnum in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 6 to 12 ft tall and about as wide as a hedge; 15 to 20 ft if left unpruned
- Light
- Full sun to part shade; takes full shade
- Water
- Moderate; tolerates wet spells and moderate drought
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; not for seawalls or spray zones
- Cold tolerance
- Cold hardy; no concern in SW Florida
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 3 to 4 ft apart for a hedge
- Florida native
- Yes
- Botanical name
- Viburnum obovatum
Where Walters Viburnum works in a SW Florida yard
Walter's viburnum suits a native or relaxed landscape: a screen along a property line, a hedge that gets a few trims a year, or a back layer behind coontie and firebush. White flower clusters open in early spring, and birds take the small berries in summer and fall.
It handles shade and wet spots better than most hedge plants. Choose something else on a seawall.
- Native privacy hedges
- Bird and wildlife gardens
- Property-line screens
- Informal mixed borders
How our crew plants it
Plant each shrub at its pot depth, in a hole about twice the pot's width. For a hedge, space plants 3 to 4 ft apart and keep the row 3 ft off walls. Backfill with native soil, mulch off the stems, and water in.
This native settles fast: a couple of months of the extra watering Lee and Collier allow, then rainfall does the rest.
Care after planting
- Shear after the early-spring bloom to keep it dense, and trim lightly through summer.
- Pull or prune off root suckers that pop up away from the hedge line.
- A new plant needs watering through its first winter and spring; after that it copes with wet and dry spells alike.
- Fertilizer is rarely needed; one light spring feeding is plenty, and the summer nitrogen and phosphorus ban makes spring the safe window.
What to watch for
- Salt is its weak point, so keep it off seawalls and out of heavy spray.
- Left unpruned it grows into a tall, open small tree, so plan on regular shearing if you want a tight hedge.
Walters Viburnum questions we hear
Is Walter's viburnum native to Florida?+
Yes. It grows wild throughout Florida except the Keys, in flatwoods, hammocks and along rivers. As a hedge it feeds birds and pollinators, stands up to hurricane winds and adapts to many soils, which makes it a sturdy native alternative to non-native hedges like ligustrum.
How tall does Walter's viburnum get, and how fast?+
Plan on 6 to 12 ft tall and about as wide as a hedge, and 15 to 20 ft if you leave it unpruned. Growth is moderate in sun with regular water. Shear after the spring bloom to keep it dense, or it becomes a small, open tree.
How far apart should I plant a Walter's viburnum hedge?+
Plant 3 to 4 ft apart. Closer spacing makes a solid screen sooner, and wider spacing gives a looser, more natural look. Keep the row about 3 ft from walls and fences, and plan on shearing once or twice a year after bloom to keep the line tidy.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Walters Viburnum
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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