Viburnum acerifolium

Viburnum acerifolium (mapleleaf viburnum or dockmackie) is a species of Viburnum, native to eastern North America from southwestern Quebec and Ontario south to northern Florida and eastern Texas, and it is adapted for USDA hardiness zones of 4 to 8.

It is a shrub growing to 1-2 m (3 to 6 feet) tall. The leaves are in opposite pairs, 5-10 cm (2 to 5") long and broad, three- to five-lobed, the lobes with a serrated margin, and the leaf surface has a fuzzy texture. There is a diverse manifestation of autumn color with this species from pale yellow to bright yellow to orange or pink, rose, or red-purple depending on the light exposure and weather conditions. The flowers are white with five small petals, produced in terminal cymes 4-8 cm (about 3 inches) diameter. The fruit is a small red to purple-black drupe 4-8 mm (about 1/3") long. It attracts butterflies and birds. Viburnum acerifolium is a larval host to the Celastrina ladon butterfly. It grows in and around upland forest, able to do well in full shade and dry soils. It grows mostly in acid soil of pH 5.0 to 6.5, but can tolerate up to 7.5. The shrub often ground suckers some and can form a colony in time.