Shasta Doublefile Viburnum

Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Shasta'

flower

Shasta is the finest of the doublefile viburnums, a shrub that stops people in their tracks in spring. Its great virtue is architecture: the branches grow in distinct horizontal tiers, and in spring each tier is lined on top with flat, lacecap clusters of pure white flowers, so the whole six to eight foot shrub looks layered in snow. Red berries follow in summer, ripening to black and quickly eaten by birds, and the pleated leaves turn burgundy-red in fall. Wider than tall, reaching nine to twelve feet across, it makes a magnificent specimen where its tiered, snow-on-the-branches form can be admired against a lawn or dark backdrop.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Hosta — Low shade foliage that fills the ground beneath the tiered branches without hiding the layered form
• Daffodil — Spring bulbs that bloom at the viburnum feet just before or as it flowers
• Ferns — Soften the shaded ground below and share the moist, well-drained soil

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Viburnum leaf beetle →

  Its larvae and adults can skeletonize leaves - check for the rows of eggs on twig undersides in winter and prune them out, and encourage predatory beetles and birds

• Aphids →

  Cluster on new growth - rinse off with water and encourage ladybugs

• Powdery mildew →

  A white film in humid, crowded conditions - give airflow and avoid overhead watering late in the day

• Squirrels →

  They sometimes eat unopened flower buds in late winter, reducing bloom - little can be done beyond accepting the occasional lighter year

🌸 Blooms & cutting

The flowering branches of doublefile viburnum are spectacular in a large arrangement - cut a tiered branch in the cool morning as the lacecaps open to show off the horizontal form indoors. In the garden, prune sparingly and only right after bloom, removing just crossing or out-of-place branches so the signature layered tiers are preserved. Leave the summer berries for the birds, which strip the red-to-black fruit quickly, and enjoy the burgundy foliage in fall.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

An ornamental shrub of real wildlife value - the spring flowers feed pollinators and the red-to-black summer berries are a favorite food of songbirds. Grown for its tiered bloom and bird value; non-toxic and safe around pets and children. Note that birds spread its abundant seed, and this fertile doublefile viburnum is considered invasive in parts of the mid-Atlantic (including Virginia and Maryland), so it is best avoided near natural areas there and deadheaded if seedlings appear.