Viburnum cassinoides NativeStar® 'Raisinette'

Discovered in the wild, Viburnum cassinoides NativeStar® 'Raisinette' is a compact selection with glossy, leathery foliage that transitions to rich red hues in autumn. In spring, clusters of creamy-white flowers are followed by jewel-like berries that age from green to bright red. Maturing at a neatly rounded, 5–7' tall and 4–6' wide, 'Raisinette' suits cottage gardens, woodland edges, mixed borders, or hedging while maintaining a controlled form. V. c. is an Eastern native that thrives in moist to average, well-drained soil and draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; it's also considered moderately deer-resistant.

With the possible exception of Rhododendron, no genus offers as many attractive and useful shrubs as Viburnum. Most Viburnums prefer rich, evenly moist, slightly acid soil and perform in sun to part shade. If you want your Viburnums to produce berries for the birds, you'll need to plant several different Viburnum varieties that bloom at the same time so plants can cross-pollinate.

For more information on growing Viburnum, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Latin Name Pronunciation: vye-burr'num 

With the possible exception of Rhododendron, no genus offers as many attractive and useful shrubs as this one. Viburnum provides just about anything you could want in a shrub, from profuse bloom to handsome foliage to colorful fruits to fall color. Growth habit varies among species: V. carlesii (Korean Spice Viburnum) and V. opulus (European Cranberry Bush) varieties are round-topped and fairly dense; V. dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum) is large with spreading branches, V. plicatum tomentosum (Doublefile Viburnum) has tiers of horizontal branches, and V. trilobum (American Cranberry Bush) varieties are more upright.

CULTURE: Full sun (grow in partial shade in the South and warm inland areas of the West); rich, well-drained, evenly moist, and slightly acidic soil. Viburnums do not tolerate drought well. Space 5–8′ apart, depending on variety. 

Bareroot Trees and Shrubs

On arrival: Your bareroot tree or shrub has been stored in a temperature-controlled cooler, which simulates winter and keeps the plant dormant. Dormant plants are unaffected by cold weather and can be planted as soon as you are able to dig a hole in the ground. If you cannot plant immediately, your tree or shrub may be stored upright in its wrapping material in a cool, dark place such as a basement, garage, or unheated shed, for a week or so. Keep it away from direct sun.

PLANTING A BAREROOT TREE OR SHRUB: Select a spot in your garden that is sheltered from strong winds. When you’re ready to plant, unwrap your plant and remove the packing material.

• Soak the roots of your tree or shrub in a container of water for a couple hours to rehydrate them.
• Dig a hole wider than the spread of the roots and deep enough to accommodate them, allowing for adjustments.
• Use excavated soil to form a mound in the center of the hole.
• Set the plant on top of the mound, fanning its roots outward. Adjust the height of the mound by adding or removing soil until the plant is positioned so that the crown (where the roots meet the stem) is at the surrounding soil level. Roots should all be below grade when the hole is filled.
• Check from all sides to make sure that the trunk is perfectly upright, not leaning in any direction.
• Backfill the hole with soil about halfway and water well, allowing water to soak in and settle the soil. Re-check for upright trunk alignment. Then add remaining soil to the top of the hole, creating a little dam around the outer edge, and water again.
• It is best to stake a young tree for extra support until its trunk attains sturdy proportions. Choose a stake that has a diameter at least as large as the stem’s diameter and long enough that when pushed firmly into the soil, it reaches inside the branches of the tree. Fasten the trunk to the stake at several points with garden twine or soft ties, allowing for some movement. Check the ties periodically and loosen them if they constrict the outward growth of the stem or dig into the bark.

ESTABLISHING A BAREROOT TREE OR SHRUB:

• Do not fertilize when planting or for the first growing season.
• Because a bareroot plant is dormant, it cannot take up much water. Refrain from watering after the initial planting until your tree or shrub leafs out and begins actively growing, unless you are experiencing extreme drought conditions.
• Minimal pruning is needed until one or two growing seasons have passed, although any suckers or growth that sprouts from the trunk or rootstock should be promptly removed.
• Once the plant has broken dormancy and is actively growing, care for it as described (except for fertilizer recommendations, although compost and mulch are recommended).

GROWTH: Plants usually need 3–5 years to start blooming and fruiting. Medium growth rate of 12–24″ a year, depending on growing conditions.

SUGGESTED USE: Screening, informal hedge, native plantings, or mixed perennial and shrub borders.

PRUNING: Prune as necessary after plants bloom in spring. Be aware that pruning will reduce the fruit production of V. trilobum varieties.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].