Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and its closely related species, varieties, and hybrids are scattered throughout Ohio, although not as abundant in the northwestern quadrant of the state. Its national distribution encompasses the entire eastern half of the United States and southern Canada. Its common name comes from the usage of its “straight as an arrow” basal shoots by the Native Americans as shafts on which to set spear points and arrowheads. It is the last of the native viburnums to bloom, in mid- to late spring. By mid- to late summer, its blue-black berries adorn the top of its rounded to arching canopy, to the delight of birds that quickly consume the fruits. Arrowwood viburnum reaches 10 feet tall by 15 feet wide when found in the open. As a member of the honeysuckle family, it is related to the honeysuckles, elderberries, weigelas, and the multitude of other viburnums. Arrowwood viburnum prefers moist, well-drained soils of rich or average composition and of variable pH, but adapts readily to poor, rocky, clay soils that are at times moderately drained, while at other times bone dry. It tolerates the heat of summer and cold of winter extremely well. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is found in zones 3 to 8. Arrowwood viburnum is virtually disease and pest free. However, its widely arching growth habit with age, coupled with its abundance of basal suckers that are constantly arising near the base of the shrub, require maintenance in gardens with restricted space. Arrowwood viburnum has smooth, opposite leaves that are medium to dark green, with large teeth on the leaf margins. Leaves vary in their width, with some being ovate and others orbicular (that is, round). Fall color can be a poor chartreuse, but is often good and may be exceptional, ranging from hues of yellow and orange to red, burgundy, and purple. The growth habit of arrowwood viburnum is strongly upright when young, but the vertical shoots weigh down with age as they extensively branch, and a mature shrub has an arching, spreading form. Arrowwood viburnum is covered in creamy white flowers in mid- to late spring, with the flowers being large and almost flat on top. These perfect flowers give rise to clusters of small round fruits that change from green to dark blue-purple in mid- to late summer, which are quickly consumed by the birds. Arrowwood viburnum has the straightest twigs and branchlets of any viburnum, with many basal suckers continuously arising from the base of the shrub. The brown to gray bark has many lenticels that dot the smooth to slightly rough branchlets and branches.