V. utile is rarely seen in the trade, probably due to its open habit and small leaves and is most probably considered a collectors item. However, it has contributed immensely to the Viburnum world as a breeding parent. Offspring include V. x burkwoodii and its cutlivars, V. x 'Chesapeake', V. x 'Eskimo', V. x 'Conoy (aka V. x burkwoodii 'Conoy') and V. pragense. Service viburnum grows 4-6' high and wide. Foliage is evergreen, glossy dark green with a silvery underside and sometimes inrolled. Pink buds open to slightly fragrant waxy flowers produced in abundance. Fruit is a ¼" drupe and blue-black. Genetic characteristics that make V. utile an important breeding parent are the glossy leaves, heat tolerance, tolerance to high ph soils and profuse flowering. Native to central China. Introduced in 1901. Zone 6