Broadleaf deciduous shrub, straggling to erect, 2-12 ft (0.6-3.5 m) tall, young shoots glabrous.
Leaves opposite, simple, nearly circular to broad elliptic, 5-8 cm long, 3 short maple-like lobes at
the apex (especially lower leaves), the upper leaves are elliptical, base rounded to truncate, irregularly
serrate, 3 veined, petiole 1-2.5 cm long. Flowers are milky-white, in few-flowered terminal, small
(1.5-2.5 cm wide) clusters (cymes), bloom May to August depending upon location. Fruit oval-globose
dupe, orange to red, 8 mm long, contains one seed. Fruit considered edible (juicy, acidic, "strange"
odor), but best suited for making jellies.
Sun or partial shade.
Hardy to USDA Zone 5 Native to much of northern North
America, from Newfoundland to Alaska and British Columbia, south through New England and Great Lakes States,
and Washington and Oregon. Populations are also found in Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota,
Wyoming, and Colorado. Considered threatened or endangered in some eastern states.
Viburnum edule might be confused with Viburnum opulus var. americanum (syn.
Viburnum trilobum). Listed below are a few differences in these plants.
Item
Viburnum edule
V. o. var. americanum
(V. trilobum)
Leaf margin
dentate to serrate
coarsely dentate
Petiole glands
mostly lacking, teeth near base bear glands
with small glands
Flowers
all bisexual, white, in small clusters (1-2.5 cm)
large clusters (7-10 cm wide), fertile flowers surrounded by a
few large, showy, sterile flowers
"The tart clustered berries were an important food, especially for peoples of the central and northern
[Pacific Northwest] coast region." (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).