Viburnum plicatum - or doublefile viburnum - is a terrifically handy plant. It's deer resistant, has great fall color and no real pest problems. It's in bloom right now and typically can be spotted by its large, horizontal branches that seem to extend from the plant parallel to the ground plane, as you can see in this specimen at Tompkins Square Park in New York.
It's called doublefile because typically the flowers and the showy bracts appear in a double line along the branches.
The specimens below belong to the same species, but these cultivars are called 'Popcorn' -- because of the round head of flowers which are actually quite similar to a Hydrangea.
Though this plant is not native (it is from China) the berries it sporadically forms in the fall are good food for birds. I also love the deeply recessed venation in the leaves -- a feature common in many Viburnum species.
Though this plant is not native (it is from China)...? This is from China really?
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