Red Feather Viburnum
Red Feather Viburnum
Bold Red New Growth on a Tough, Large Viburnum
Red Feather Viburnum (Viburnum lantana 'Red Feather') is grown for the striking red color of its emerging leaves and stems in spring, a feathery flush of red over the large, textured shrub. Flat clusters of creamy-white flowers appear in spring, followed by berries that shift from red to black to feed birds, and the bold foliage takes on color again in fall. Exceptionally tough, adaptable, and deer-resistant, it makes a substantial screen or specimen in Minnetonka, Lakeville, and Blaine.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Viburnum lantana 'Red Feather' |
| Mature Size | 8–10 ft tall and wide |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 3–7 (fully hardy across Minnesota) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Bloom Time | Spring (creamy-white clusters) |
| Fruit | Berries ripening red to black |
| Soil | Adaptable; tolerates dry and average soils |
Landscape Uses
Use Red Feather as a screen, hedge, or large specimen in borders and wildlife plantings. Its red new growth, spring flowers, colorful berries, and fall color provide multi-season interest, and it tolerates tougher, drier sites than many viburnums.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early fall, when cooler weather and steady moisture help roots establish.
How to Plant
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch off the stems.
Watering
First Year: Water deeply 2–3 times per week to establish the roots.
After Year One: Water during dry spells; it tolerates drier soil better than most viburnums once established.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line keeps the root zone evenly moist while establishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Red Feather distinctive?
Its emerging spring foliage and stems are boldly red, giving a feathery red flush over the shrub.
How big does it get?
About 8–10 feet, making a substantial screen or specimen.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, hardy to Zone 3 and reliable statewide.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, viburnums are generally deer-resistant.
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Pair Red Feather with our other viburnums and large shrubs for a tough, colorful screen or wildlife border.
How Many Red Feather Viburnum Do I Need?
This is a big shrub (8–10 ft tall and wide), so it makes a substantial screen or hedge. Space plants about 7 feet apart for a solid screen, or plant singly as a large specimen. For a screen run at 7-foot spacing:
| Screen Length | Plants Needed (7 ft apart) |
|---|---|
| 14 ft | 2–3 |
| 21 ft | 3–4 |
| 35 ft | 5–6 |
| 50 ft | 7–8 |
Red Feather Viburnum Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: A feathery flush of bold red new leaves and stems, joined by flat clusters of creamy-white flowers.
- Summer: Large, textured green foliage forms a dense, substantial screen.
- Fall: Berries shift from red to black to feed birds, and the foliage colors up again.
- Winter: Bare, sturdy branching structure; any remaining berries support late-season wildlife.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Four-Season Interest
Plant It With
- Common Snowball Viburnum — a fellow tough viburnum with big white spring blooms for a layered screen.
- Northern Gold Forsythia — a large early-spring gold bloomer to mix into the same screen line.
- Common Purple Lilac — a big fragrant shrub that adds bloom and screening at a similar scale.
- Isanti Dogwood — a native red-twig that feeds wildlife and adds winter stem color below the viburnum.
Is Red Feather Viburnum Right for Your Yard?
Red Feather is an exceptionally tough, adaptable screen shrub for full sun to part shade, handling dry and average soils better than most viburnums, and deer generally leave it alone. Its flowers, berries, and red new growth feed birds and pollinators across the seasons. It's not a fit for a tight space — it reaches 8–10 feet tall and wide, so give it real room or choose a more compact shrub.