Viburnum opulus L.
Guelder rose, water elder, European cranberrybush, cramp bark, snowball tree
Guelder rose is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The common name originates from the Dutch province of Gelderland, where a popular cultivar is believed to have originated.
Plants: This shrub reaches 8–12′ (2.4–3.7 m) in size.
Leaves: Three-lobed, coarse-veined, somewhat maple-like leaves are 1¾–4″ (5–10 cm) in size. Leaves are opposite, with course serrations.
Flowers: 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.
Fruits: Brilliant red when ripe, ¼–⅜″ (7–10 mm) in diameter, round or somewhat oval, containing a single seed.
Habitats: Wet woods, along streams, and on moist wooded hillsides of northern USA and Canada.
See this comparison table showing Viburnums that are presently in our database, or this nicely done Viburnum species guide.
From . 
Online References:
10/6/2023 · Rangeley, Maine 
9/24/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
8/4/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 16 × 11″ (41 × 27 cm) 
5/14/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts 
5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
A cultivar · 10/6/2023 · Rangeley, Maine 
A cultivar · 10/6/2023 · Rangeley, Maine 
7/17/2010 · Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 16 × 12″ (39 × 29 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
10/23/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (15 × 11 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
9/24/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
A cultivar · 10/6/2023 · Rangeley, Maine 
9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
10/1/2011 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 | opulus | From Latin opulus, a type of maple |
Viburnum opulus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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