http://www.classicviburnums.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/index.htm Classic Viburnums Viburnum x pragense Prague Viburnum A hybrid cross between V. rhytidophyllum and V. utile made at the Prague Municipal Gardens, Czech Republic in 1955. An attractive, fast growing shrub, growing to 10' tall and 8-10' wide giving it upright oval to oval-rounded. The very waxy foliage is dark green above and felt gray beneath, 2-4" long, elliptic-lanceolate, and semi-evergreen. Flower buds are flat and pink, opening to pinkish-white, slightly fragrant 3-6" cymes in May. Fruit is red, changing to shiny black but very sparse to non-existent. Severe leaf burn but no stem or bud damage at -17�. The evergreen foliage makes it an excellent screening plant while the very waxy leaves and fine texture lends its use as an accent plant. The growth extensions are very vigorous and need to be pruned to achieve density. It can be easily trimmed as a formal hedge and I have been told of pragense being sheared as a capitata yew at a cemetery in downtown Kansas City. Zone 5 USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 Height: 10 Feet Spread: 8-10 Feet Viburnum x pragense Characteristics Growth Rate in the Garden Moderate to Fast Habit Upright, rounded Soil Requirements Acid Moist, well drained Sun Requirements Full Sun to Part Shade Flowering Season Mid to late May Fragrant Flowers Yes Fruit Sparse Red to black Winter foliage Semi-evergreen

There are at least two types of viburnums commonly known as American Cranberry Viburnum. If you have Viburnum opulus var. americanum, prune immediately after flowering (late spring / early summer). If you have Viburnum trilobum, prune in late winter or very early spring before spring growth begins. In either case pruning in "fall after the leaves fall off" goes against ALL expert advise I have ever seen on either of these plants. If you are pruning dead wood or damaged branches, you can prune at other times, but for training and regular yearly pruning, I would stick with the normal recommendations.

I'd stick with viburnums but try one of the native species. Most are tolerant of less than full sun (much more so than blueberries), do not require any specific soil conditions other than decent drainage and are far less water-hungry. And they all produce berries that are attractive to birds and other wildlife, as well as attracting pollinators and are host plants to various butterflies and moths. Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry Viburnum trilobum - Highbush cranberry Viburnum prunifolium - Blackhaw Viburnum nudum - Swamphaw Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood viburnum They also have very attractive flowers and most develop stunning fall color.

Viburnum plicatum.