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Sweet viburnum

Viburnum odoratissimum · Viburnaceae · all Viburnum records

Your local evidence lens

Separate evidence questions, never one approval badge

Set a ZIP to compare this record with state distribution, native range, USDA hardiness, and invasive records.

A genus split is not a placement verdict. Set a ZIP to read the local documented split.

1. Fire evidence and conditions

Fire evidence: Fire-resistant — location does not change the cited classification.
Fire-performance conditions: 1 condition stated in cited fire-evidence rows.
Fire ecology context: No section-reviewed fire-ecology context is normalized.
Placement evidence: 2 source placement records; source schemes remain separate.
Evidence regions: Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Global; Japan; eastern US
Maintenance: No sourced horticultural maintenance assertion is normalized; fire-test conditions do not supply maintenance advice.

2. Why this plant is relevant here

State distribution: Documented in DC, DE, MD, NJ, OH, PA, WV.
Native range: No current cited or legacy state native range is normalized.
Introduced / established: No introduced or established row is normalized; that does not prove native status.
USDA hardiness: Only uncertain or inapplicable hardiness rows are cited; no primary zone is projected.

3. Legal, ecological, and broader status

Legal-list status: Set a location for an exact legal-list result; source silence is not clearance.
Seed-list status: Set a location to compare the separate state noxious-weed seed layer.
Reported invasive here: No ecological invasive report is normalized; that does not prove noninvasiveness.
Broader regional context: Aggregate AK, HI, and L48 evidence is shown only as regional context, never as an exact-state finding.
Federal context: Federal designations remain separate from state legal-list results.

How to read this page

The status above is computed from the cited rows below: independent recommendations can support a fire-resistant result, an avoid row can produce keep-away, and disagreement stays visible as conflict. Placement notes preserve each source’s own scheme rather than translating unlike rules into one scale. This is evidence about a plant, not permission to plant it in every part of the defensible space; Zone 0 remains noncombustible.

Sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) — Photo: (c) Greg Tasney, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) (CC BY-SA), via iNaturalist. Species-typical, not necessarily this cultivar.

Form: tree
USDA hardiness: Only uncertain or inapplicable source rows; no primary zone projected
Mature height: ~25 ft
Grows in: DC, DE, MD, NJ, OH, PA, WV
Rated in: Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Global; Japan; eastern US
Family: Viburnaceae
Evidence: 23 cited sources

Plant hardiness evidence

These values describe the plant source. Your ZIP zone comes from the separate 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Whole-zone values stay whole-zone, and a single unresolved value is not treated as a tolerance range. Different source boundaries stay separate: overlapping statements are compared independently, while only ranges with no shared zone are called a conflict.

Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector · record viburnum-odoratissimum · 2016-wayback · as of 2026-08-26

Source prints 6 · single-value meaning unresolved · whole zone precision · source stated

Source taxon: Viburnum odoratissimum · exact match.

Source location: Cold Hardiness Zone field in the recovered selector record.

Not used for comparison: The recovered selector prints one Cold Hardiness Zone value but does not define it as a minimum threshold or a one-zone range.

Conditions in the fire evidence

These describe tested or rated plant material. They are not horticultural maintenance instructions.

green: Evaluation of the flammability of trees and shrubs used in green barriers in southern Brazil evidence row

Where its sources say to plant it

Placement rules below use each source's own distances or named zones, tied to its rating. They are not interchangeable with the directory's current Zone 0 guidance.

Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector: Landscape Zone 2 — 5–10 ft from the structure; maintained lawn or fuel breaks, with easily ignited evergreens avoided [Fire Performance Plant Selector landscape zone] (mid-scale rating)
Tree fire-protection classification in Hito to Shinrin: サンゴジュ — Table 10-2 [tadaki-kira-1982-fire-protection-power] (with its recommendation)

The evidence

Grouped by what each source concluded. Primary evidence rated the plant itself (a lab, field program, or original curation); corroboration compiled or republished another source's rating and resolves to its root lineage.

Mid-scale / conditional (2)

Eastern United States Fire Performance Plant Selector — USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area S&PF + state Firewise programs (WV, OH, PA, DE, DC, MD, NJ) · 2016-wayback · original source Primary evidence Keyed curation lineage: ufifas-srs-tree

“MODERATELY Firewise (2)”

Pungent foliage. Red fruit. Use as a small tree.
Evaluation of the flammability of trees and shrubs used in green barriers in southern Brazil — USDA Forest Service (Batista, Biondi, Tetto et al.; Universidade Federal do Paraná) · 2013 · original source Primary evidence Lab-tested lineage: ufpr-cortinas-tree

“Moderately flammable (FV 2)” · score 2 (valette-0-5-live-shoot) · condition: green

Mean time to ignition 18.2 s; mean flame length 10.64 cm.

Listed without a rating (20)

FLAMITS: FLAMmability plant traiTS database — Dryad / Global Ecology and Biogeography · Dryad version 9 · original source Corroboration Trait database lineage: meta-aggregator

20 cited rows from this source; its identity, lineage and tier are stated once.
- “time to flaming (s): 18.2” · score 18.2 (FLAMITS — time to flaming (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 438; Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2012-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2012: Batista, C., Biondi, D., França, A., de Assunção, R., Tres, A., Costa, R., ... Kovalsyki, B. (2012). Evaluación de la Inflamabilidad de Árboles y Arbustos Utilizados en la Implementación de Barreras Verdes en el Sur del Brasil. Cuarto Simposio Internacional Sobre Políticas, Planificación y Economía de los Incendios Forestales: Cambio Climático e Incendios Forestales, Ciudad de México, México.
- “burning duration (s): 4.74” · score 4.74 (FLAMITS — burning duration (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 443; Sustainability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2012-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2012: Batista, C., Biondi, D., França, A., de Assunção, R., Tres, A., Costa, R., ... Kovalsyki, B. (2012). Evaluación de la Inflamabilidad de Árboles y Arbustos Utilizados en la Implementación de Barreras Verdes en el Sur del Brasil. Cuarto Simposio Internacional Sobre Políticas, Planificación y Economía de los Incendios Forestales: Cambio Climático e Incendios Forestales, Ciudad de México, México.
- “flammability value: 2” · score 2 (FLAMITS — flammability value)
  
  FLAMITS record 448; Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2012-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2012: Batista, C., Biondi, D., França, A., de Assunção, R., Tres, A., Costa, R., ... Kovalsyki, B. (2012). Evaluación de la Inflamabilidad de Árboles y Arbustos Utilizados en la Implementación de Barreras Verdes en el Sur del Brasil. Cuarto Simposio Internacional Sobre Políticas, Planificación y Economía de los Incendios Forestales: Cambio Climático e Incendios Forestales, Ciudad de México, México.
- “flame height (cm): 10.64” · score 10.64 (FLAMITS — flame height (cm))
  
  FLAMITS record 453; Combustibility measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2012-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2012: Batista, C., Biondi, D., França, A., de Assunção, R., Tres, A., Costa, R., ... Kovalsyki, B. (2012). Evaluación de la Inflamabilidad de Árboles y Arbustos Utilizados en la Implementación de Barreras Verdes en el Sur del Brasil. Cuarto Simposio Internacional Sobre Políticas, Planificación y Economía de los Incendios Forestales: Cambio Climático e Incendios Forestales, Ciudad de México, México.
- “time to flaming (s): 23.29” · score 23.29 (FLAMITS — time to flaming (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 492; Ignitability measurement; plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2020-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2020: Batista, A.C., Biondi, D., & Martini, A. (2020). Flammability of ornamental species for fire management in wildland-urban interface in Paraná state. Floresta, 51, 192-200.
- “flaming duration (s): 5.38” · score 5.38 (FLAMITS — flaming duration (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 493; Sustainability measurement; plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2020-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2020: Batista, A.C., Biondi, D., & Martini, A. (2020). Flammability of ornamental species for fire management in wildland-urban interface in Paraná state. Floresta, 51, 192-200.
- “flame height (cm): 11.9” · score 11.9 (FLAMITS — flame height (cm))
  
  FLAMITS record 494; Combustibility measurement; plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2020-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2020: Batista, A.C., Biondi, D., & Martini, A. (2020). Flammability of ornamental species for fire management in wildland-urban interface in Paraná state. Floresta, 51, 192-200.
- “ignition frequency (%): 44” · score 44 (FLAMITS — ignition frequency (%))
  
  FLAMITS record 519; Ignitability measurement; plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2020-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2020: Batista, A.C., Biondi, D., & Martini, A. (2020). Flammability of ornamental species for fire management in wildland-urban interface in Paraná state. Floresta, 51, 192-200.
- “flammability value: 3” · score 3 (FLAMITS — flammability value)
  
  FLAMITS record 520; Ignitability measurement; plant part leaves; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Batista2020-1; sampling ND. Primary study Batista2020: Batista, A.C., Biondi, D., & Martini, A. (2020). Flammability of ornamental species for fire management in wildland-urban interface in Paraná state. Floresta, 51, 192-200.
- “time to flaming (s): 23.3” · score 23.3 (FLAMITS — time to flaming (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 11927; Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “flame height (cm): 5.04” · score 5.04 (FLAMITS — flame height (cm))
  
  FLAMITS record 11936; Combustibility measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “flammability value: 1” · score 1 (FLAMITS — flammability value)
  
  FLAMITS record 11945; Ignitability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “burning duration (s): 5.4” · score 5.4 (FLAMITS — burning duration (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 11954; Sustainability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “flame height (cm): 32.1” · score 32.1 (FLAMITS — flame height (cm))
  
  FLAMITS record 11963; Combustibility measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “rate of burning spread (cm/s): 48.8” · score 48.8 (FLAMITS — rate of burning spread (cm/s))
  
  FLAMITS record 11972; Sustainability measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “calorific value (kcal/kg): 3877.9” · score 3877.9 (FLAMITS — calorific value (kcal/kg))
  
  FLAMITS record 11981; Combustibility measurement; plant part twigs; fuel live; predrying no; device epiradiator; site Santos2018a-1; sampling ND. Primary study Santos2018a: Santos, J. F. L., Batista, A. C., Tres, A., Tetto, A. F., & Kovalsyki, B. (2018a). Flammability and combustibility of potential species for use as fuel breaks. In: D. X. Viegas, Advances in Forest Fire Research 2018 (pp. 788-793), Portugal, University of Coimbra.
- “time to flaming (s): 4” · score 4 (FLAMITS — time to flaming (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 19461; Ignitability measurement; plant part branches; fuel all; predrying yes; device grill; site Murray2023-1; sampling ND. Primary study Murray2023: Murray, B. R., Hawthorne, T., Curran, T. J., Krix, D. W., Wallace, M. I., Young, K., ... & Webb, J. K. (2023). Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildlandurban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. International Journal of Wildland Fire, Online early.
- “burning duration (s): 2” · score 2 (FLAMITS — burning duration (s))
  
  FLAMITS record 19462; Sustainability measurement; plant part branches; fuel all; predrying yes; device grill; site Murray2023-1; sampling ND. Primary study Murray2023: Murray, B. R., Hawthorne, T., Curran, T. J., Krix, D. W., Wallace, M. I., Young, K., ... & Webb, J. K. (2023). Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildlandurban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. International Journal of Wildland Fire, Online early.
- “maximum flame temperature (°C): 312.22” · score 312.22 (FLAMITS — maximum flame temperature (°C))
  
  FLAMITS record 19463; Combustibility measurement; plant part branches; fuel all; predrying yes; device grill; site Murray2023-1; sampling ND. Primary study Murray2023: Murray, B. R., Hawthorne, T., Curran, T. J., Krix, D. W., Wallace, M. I., Young, K., ... & Webb, J. K. (2023). Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildlandurban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. International Journal of Wildland Fire, Online early.
- “estimated burnt biomass (%): 2.33” · score 2.33 (FLAMITS — estimated burnt biomass (%))
  
  FLAMITS record 19464; Consumability measurement; plant part branches; fuel all; predrying yes; device grill; site Murray2023-1; sampling ND. Primary study Murray2023: Murray, B. R., Hawthorne, T., Curran, T. J., Krix, D. W., Wallace, M. I., Young, K., ... & Webb, J. K. (2023). Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildlandurban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. International Journal of Wildland Fire, Online early.

Last verified 2026-08-23. JSON (CC BY 4.0)

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Viburnum odoratissimum (Sweet viburnum). FireApproved. https://fireapproved.com/plants/viburnum-odoratissimum/. Last verified 2026-08-23.