Viburnum acerifolium L.
Maple-leaf viburnum, arrow-wood, maple-leaf arrowwood, maple-leaved viburnum, maple-leaf arrow-wood
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Dipsacales Includes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others
Family Adoxaceae Elders and viburnums
Genus Viburnum Latin for “a kind of shrub”
Species acerifolium Means “with leaves like a maple”
About plant names...
Maple-leaved viburnum is a native of North America. Viburnum means "wayfaring tree," and
acerifolium means "maple-like."
Identification: These shrubs are 4-6′ (1.2-1.8 m) tall and
3-4′ (91-121 cm) around. Leaves are dark green, three-lobed, 2-4″ (5-10 cm) long, occurring in
opposite pairs. It is the maple-like leaf shape that distinguishes this species from other viburnums.
In the fall, leaves are orange, red, or purple.
White flowers are in ball-shaped, flat-topped, or spike-shaped clusters, and have a somewhat
disagreeable odor. The
individual flowers are less than ¼″ (6.3 mm) across. Berries go from green to red to blue-purple
to almost black in color; they are about ¼″ (6.3 mm) around.
See this comparison table showing Viburnums that are presently in
our database, or this nicely done Viburnum species guide .
Flowers. Photo from nps.gov.
Online References:
Www.carolinanature.com
Illinois Wildflowers
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Plantdatabase.uconn.edu
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
10/10/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9 cm)
9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. acerifolium
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. densiflorum (Chapm.) McAtee
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. glabrescens Rehder
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. ovatum (Rehder) McAtee
Viburnum densiflorum Chapm.
Viburnum acerifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 13 Oct 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (10 × 7 cm)
6/7/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
9/22/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm)
Range:
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