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Viburnum opulus L.

Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderDipsacalesIncludes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others
FamilyAdoxaceaeElders and viburnums
GenusViburnumLatin for “a kind of shrub”
SpeciesopulusFrom Latin opulus, a type of maple

About plant names...

Guelder rose is native to Europe and Asia.

Identification: This shrub reaches 13-16' (4-5 m), with three-lobed, coarse-veined, somewhat maple-like leaves 1¾-4" (5-10 cm) in size. Leaves have course serrations, and occur in opposing pairs. Flowerheads (technically corymbs) are 1½-4" (4-11 cm) around. Each corymb has an outer ring of sterile, white- or cream-colored flowers ½-¾" (1.5-2 cm) around, with five petals. Within this ring is a large number of very small, fertile flowers, also white, about ⅛" (5 mm) around. The fruits are brilliant red when ripe, ⅛-¼" (3.2-6.3 mm) in diameter, round or somewhat oval.

See this comparison table showing Viburnums that are presently in our database, or this nicely done Viburnum species guide.

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

From .

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Blue Planet Biomes

The USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project (Viburnum opulus L. var. americanum) (PDF)

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

CalPhotos

EFloras

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

9/24/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

8/4/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 16 × 11" (41 × 27 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

5/14/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 3½' (92 × 103 cm)

 

Viburnum opulus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


  

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine
≈ 16 × 12" (39 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

10/23/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

9/24/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree)

10/1/2011 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

Range: Zones 3-8:

About this map...