European Cranberrybush Viburnum Viburnum opulus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viburnum trilobum
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num OP-yoo-lus
- Description
-
European cranberry is a deciduous shrub in the Viburnaceae (viburnum) family native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. It has attractive flowers, foliage, drupes, and showy autumn coloration. Despite the common name, it is not a cranberry, the bright read fruits merely resemble those of the Vaccinium genus.
Grows in moist, well-drained, humusy soils but it is adaptable to various soils and pHs. Prune out the oldest stems to renew. This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer.
This plant looks very much like the native var. americanum and is sometimes sold as the native in nurseries. Differentiation is by glands at the tip of the leaf stalk near the blade. Those of Guelder-rose are typically shorter than wide, oval-elliptic, and bowl or cup-shaped with a distinct rim. Also, the fruit is more bitter and less desirable for making jellies and sauces.
While it is often used as a hedge or in a shrub border, it is weedy and other options should be considered.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids can be a problem. Viburnum crown borer can cause stem dieback. Some susceptibility to bacterial leaf spot, stem blight and powdery mildew. It has invasive tendencies and it is now found in the wild from Newfoundland south to Virginia and west to Washington state. Please consider planting a native or less problematic plant.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Compactum'
- 'Notcutt'
- 'Wentworth'
May be listed under the species name V. trilobum
Huge, long-lasting flowers produced in mid-spring and turn from green to white var. americanum
Use as an ornamental shrub for the flowers and fall interest of the fruits in hedges - 'Compactum'
- 'Compactum', 'Notcutt', 'Roseum', var. americanum, 'Wentworth'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Compactum'
- 'Notcutt'
- 'Wentworth'
May be listed under the species name V. trilobum
Huge, long-lasting flowers produced in mid-spring and turn from green to white var. americanum
Use as an ornamental shrub for the flowers and fall interest of the fruits in hedges - 'Compactum'
- 'Compactum', 'Notcutt', 'Roseum', var. americanum, 'Wentworth'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- opulus
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Bark used medicinally
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia and N. Africa.
- Distribution:
- CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , MA , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , PE , QC , SK
- Wildlife Value:
- Mildly deer resistant. Birds love the berries. Host plant to the Spring Azure butterfly.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Drupes can be eaten off the bush or used in jams.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 0.3 in. bright red bitter drupe in fall that shrivels after a frost looking like a red raison and persists into winter
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- White flowers on 2 to 4 in. flat-topped cyme. Larger sterile flowers surround fertile smaller flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4" long and nearly as wide glossy dark green leaves are three-lobed with pointed tips, rounded base, serrated margins and a somewhat wrinkled surface with impressed leaf venation. Sporadic fall color of yellow to red-purple.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Gray-brown waxy bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are brown and glabrous with white lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Weedy
