Moonlit Lace Viburnum, a white-flowered evergreen plant with green, velvety foliage and crimson-colored leafstalks, has got its charismatic features through the hybrid selection between V. tinus and V. davidii. The cluster of tiny, cream-colored flowers that blossom out all at once in spring is the real beauty of it.
The fast-growing feature of Moonlit Lace Viburnum, ideally suited for mass planting, makes it the perfect choice for ornamental, hedge, and screening purposes.
Contents
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Classification
- Genus: Viburnum
- Family: Adoxaceae
- Cultivar: Moonlit Lace
About the Genus Viburnum
Viburnum, from the Adoxaceae family, is a genus of angiosperms, consisting of about 150-175 species. This genus of shrubs and small trees is native to the countries in the temperate northern hemisphere and some subtropical regions.
Some viburnum plants are known for their fragrance, and some are grown for their fruit. Several species of viburnum, bearing red, blue, black, or purple round fruits, are used to make jam. Some of the plants from this family are mildly poisonous.
This genus includes both deciduous and evergreen plants. Deciduous plants are mostly found in temperate regions where their thick bark protects them from the cold climate, while evergreen plants are limited to the warmer zones. The sunlight requirements of its species vary from needing full-time sun to just mild-moist shade. Some species have healing properties, and their bark is used in herbal medicines to treat asthma.
Origin and Distribution
Viburnum is derived from Latin, vīburnum, which is believed to be an Etruscan word.
Viburnum was first discovered in 1731. The plants of this Adoxaceae family are widely distributed in Asia and North America; Southeast Asia and South America have a confined number of species. Some of its species are also found in North Carolina. The Atlas Mountains is the only place in Africa where these plants grow.
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Features
Foliage and Stem
The burgundy stem holds fresh green-colored foliage that adapts the color of its leafstalk in autumn and becomes crimson in color. Beautiful, creamy flowers bloom out of pink buds in spring and give the plant a natural bouquet-like appearance. Because Moonlit Lace Viburnum is a hybrid of V. tinus, they resemble a lot to each other. They have the same green foliage, clusters of cream-colored flowers, and crimson petiole; but unlike V. tinus, Moonlit Lace Viburnum does not yield fruit.
The thick bunch of glossy-green, elliptic leaves lift the charm of this plant. Its leaves are chlorophyll-rich, so they have a fresh, dark-green appearance that is appealing to all plant-lovers who want to nature-decorate their living rooms and porches.
Being trichromatic is what makes Moonlit Lace Viburnum so attractive. The green, white, and burgundy combination makes it a beautiful ornament. This three-colored combination changes to just a crimson-white mixture in autumn when the leaves of Moonlit Lace lose their fresh-green color and turn burgundy just like their stems. These small shrubs align with nature in autumn as a white and crimson-reddish blend is the color of autumn.
This small, lovely shrub can embellish your home and make it look more beautiful; no matter what season it is, its foliage and flowers will always feel peaceful to look at.
Evergreen
Moonlit Lace Viburnum is an evergreen plant that does not shed its leaves in the falling season, so you don’t have to worry about a messy garden in autumn when Moonlit Lace is around. This tiny beauty is capable of surviving in fall because it conserves some nutrients required for its growth in autumn; its foliage keeps growing while all the surrounding deciduous’ lose their blades to fall.
Height
This flowering shrub can grow to a height of about 3-4 feet that making it an ideal ornament for your living room corner. Its compact form makes it super easy to handle, and you can place it wherever you like.
Temperature Tolerance
Thanks to the hybrid selection, Moonlit Lace Viburnum is heat tolerant, unlike V. davidii. Its thick bark protects it from heat. But keep in mind that it cannot survive too high a temperature. It can also survive the harsh climates of temperate zones where it is cold enough for plants to freeze; it will remain fresh and glossy even on a dry, frosty morning with a temperature as low as -17°C.
Humidity Tolerance
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Monrovia has proved to be a tough plant that can smoothly survive a humid environment. On a dry day, these plants need to be nurtured and watered often to increase their surrounding humid levels. If you are planning to have this beautiful piece decorated in your home, do not forget to maintain the humidity levels around 40-60%.
Drought Resistance
Dry soils and dry seasons are a nightmare for V. davidii, but Moonlit Lace Viburnum is a drought-resistant plant whose thick bark helps it conserve water in such harsh conditions. If you forget to water it for a day or two, it will still shine bright and fresh.
Pressure Tolerance
Moonlit Lace Viburnum is a small shrub that does not need much space to grow, but if you place it in a compact place alongside other space-taking plants, it will not grow to its full height. You need to give some space to this fast-growing shrub to grow a straight stem.
Disease and Pest Resistance
Along with all the other unique features of this pretty plant, it is also disease and pest-resistant. That means you never have to worry about its healthy growth; it does not attract any pests. You do not need any pesticides for this shrub.
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Monrovia is a perfect choice through which you can bring your garden to life because this dearie plant attracts bees and butterflies through its nectar. Your garden will be home to many beautiful butterflies and bees where they roam around the creamy-colored flower clusters, feeding on the nectar and dispersing the pollens.
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Growth
This plant may only be just 3-4 feet high, but it is a fast-growing shrub that reaches its mature height in no time. It occupies an equal volume in width; it grows for 4-5 feet in thickness. Its fast growth rate is a cherry on top, making it a hedging plant; you can decorate your porch or fence with a bundle of these, and you don’t even have to worry about shedding leaves because this is an evergreen plant. VOILA!
Toxicity
Many species from the genus Viburnum are known to be toxic or even poisonous, but just like its parent plants, Moonlit Lace Viburnum is a non-toxic shrub that can be placed inside a home without any fear for children or pets.
Durability
These plants have a longer life span than V. davidii. If you take proper care of these delicate beauties, water them regularly, prune them from time to time, these can exceed their lifespan and remain in your indoors for more years.
Maintenance
Being heat, drought, and pest-resistant make Moonlit Lace Viburnum a low-maintenance plant. It does not need daily care, but it demands attention in the dry season. Its humidity and water level must be kept in check in such harsh conditions.
Dormancy
Unlike many other plants that go dormant in winter, Moonlit Lace Viburnum keeps up its growth rate for all seasons. This evergreen plant does not stop its growth in chilly weather. Your home will smell of Viburnum flowers throughout the year. You can also propagate more of these adorable shrubs in winters without worrying about their dormancy period.
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Care
When it comes to Moonlit Lace Viburnum care, not much effort needs to be done. It needs to be watered regularly and requires an optimum pH of 5.5 to 8.0. It needs USDA plant hardiness zones of 7-9. Just keep your plant hydrated and humid; that’s it! Your plant will blossom for years.
Water Requirements
Even though this species is evergreen, it still needs to be watered regularly. Regular watering is necessary to keep the velvety foliage fresh and green. After planting Moonlit Lace Viburnum, keep watering it regularly during the first year. This practice allows the roots to spread and grow into the soil and establish a strong base. This strong base favors straight stem growth. After a year, reduce your water timings according to the plant’s needs. Before watering your home plant, check the soil for moisture. If the soil is still damp, do not water it. The plant should never have more than 1 inch of water dampening the soil. This water level should be strictly followed because this is a drought-resistant species, so it does not like to be over-flooded.
Soil Requirements
Moonlit Lace Viburnum grows best in well-drained soil, but moderately-drained soil will also do the trick. Well-drained soil increases aeration and reduces nutrient loss.
Slightly acidic soils are best suited for these adorable, small trees. Unlike many species, these plants can also grow in alkaline soil. Though, the optimum pH for Moonlit lace Viburnum to grow is 5.5-8.
If you want to improve the growing conditions for your plant, you can turn your highly alkaline soil to slightly acidic by adding a little vinegar to it. You have to be really careful with the quantity of vinegar as its excessive quantity can damage your plant. Just add two tablespoons of vinegar to a gallon of water and keep spraying it on your plant from time to time.
Sunlight Requirements
A plant-lover has always been told that the key to success is the right plant, the right place, but actually, it requires many other keys as well. One of those keys is the correct light exposure. Moonlit Lace Viburnum blossoms best in full sun to partial shade.
You can either place this shrub outside where it receives six hours of direct sunlight per day. This compact plant can also survive in partial shade, so you can also pot it inside your house in a place where it gets two hours of direct light exposure.
If you live in a hot climate where you get more than 7 hours of bright sunlight, keep your Moonlit Lace Viburnum indoors. These plants are not suitable for extreme heat and will dry out soon. In such conditions, water-spray your plant frequently to keep it humid.
Temperature Requirements
This handsome shrub is native to temperate regions, so it cannot survive in intense heat or extreme cold. The minimum temperature that this pretty ornament can bear is -17°C. This species is, no doubt, heat-resistant, but when it comes to extreme heat, this plant cannot grow well.
Speaking of heat resistance, Moonlit Lace Viburnum can also survive in temperatures as high as 30°C.
Humidity
If you are planning to place your plant outside in your garden, then you do not need to worry about its humidity requirements (if your environment is already humid). But if you want to pot this tiny tree plant inside your house, you have to keep a humid environment. As mentioned before, this species requires a 40-60% humid atmosphere. House indoors is just 30% humid, so you need to increase the surrounding humidity with some simple tricks. If your plant’s blades and leaves are turning brown, it is a sign of humidity stress. In such a condition, use any of the following tips:
- Spray your plants often.
- Keep your plants in groups. This will regulate the humidity levels through precipitation.
- Use a humidifier.
Fertilizer
This foliage-rich plant is not a heavy feeder, but you can apply fertilizers to it for better growth. Natural organic plant food is the best fertilizer for a Moonlit Lace Viburnum. You can also add a slow-release shrub to the soil for a thick bloom. For the plants in pots, feed them with liquid plant food.
Grooming and Pruning
This evergreen, captivating plant does not require much pruning, except to give it a better shape and to remove the dead branches. You can prune your plant in late winter or before the flowering season.
Moonlit Lace Viburnum Propagation
Another great feature of Moonlit Lace Viburnum is that it can be neatly propagated, either by softwood or hardwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings are comparatively easier to propagate, and spring is the best time of the year to take a cutting from Viburnum. Always keep the softwood cuttings moist, till it grows its new roots in 4 months.
Final Thoughts
Moonlit Lace Viburnum with its gorgeous form, fresh green foliage, burgundy-crimson petioles, and creamy-colored flower clusters lights up any surrounding, whether it is a garden, porch, or a cozy living room. This lovely plant is the perfect choice for all the carefree and laid-back plant lovers.