American Cranberrybush Viburnum

American Cranberrybush Viburnum

Viburnum trilobum

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

▲ ▼ flower and foliage

▲ foliage

▲ flower

Location on or near campus: not known

Viburnum trilobum: American Cranberrybush Viburnum

• leaves opposite, simple, deciduous, simple, palmately three-lobed; leaves dark green above and glabrous; glabrous to pubescent on leaf undersides; leaves 2-5" long and equally wide or wider; fall color may be yellow to orange or red-purple
• stems glabrous to glaucous, rigid and gray-brown in color
• size is to 8-12' tall with equal spread, but often smaller in cultivation
• flowers are white in terminal flat-topped 3-4 inch diameter clusters (cymes) and fruit is bright red, and edible, ripening in early autumn
• grows well in sun or shade; prefers moist, but well-drained soils; does not tolerate drought stress well
• medium growth rate
• native to Missouri
• similar in appearance to European Cranberrybush Viburnum, but is a U.S. native species; it is not the true “cranberry" used in cranberry juice cocktail (sold by Ocean Spray, Northland, etc.); that cranberry is a member of the Ericaceae or Heath family, and requires highly acidic, peaty soils for best growth