Viburnum opulus var. americanum
Common name:
American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Pronunciation:
vi-BER-num OP-u-lus a-mer-i-KAH-num
Family:
Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae
Genus:
Synonyms:
Viburnum trilobum
V. opulus subsp. trilobum
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Broadleaf deciduous shrub, 8-12 ft (2.1-3.5 m) high with a similar spread, upright, spreading, round topped, arching branches. Leaves simple, opposite, 3-lobed, 5-14 cm long, base rounded or truncate, lobes acuminate, sometimes middle lobe elongated, margin coarsely toothed, dark green above, soft hairs on veins below, petiole 13-25 mm long, with shallow grove, usually with sticky glands. Fall color ranges from yellow to red-purple. Flowers white, in 10 cm flat-topped clusters (cymes), those in the outer ring are 2 cm across, showy and sterile; the inner ones are inconspicuous, with yellow anthers. Fruit is 9 mm diam, scarlet red in fall. (Similar to V. opulus var. opulus)
- Sun to part shade, best in good, well-drained, moist soil.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 2 Native range from New Brunswick to British Columbia, south to New York, Michigan, South Dakota and Wyoming.
- A dwarf form, 'Compactum', is available.
- At one time the American Cranberrybush Viburnum was knows as Viburnum trilobum. It is now considered a variety (varietas, var.) of Viburnum opulus, the European Cranberry Viburnum (syn. Viburnum opulus var. opulus) and designated Viburnum opulus var. americanum. The two varieties can easily be confused. Here are a few differences.
- Oregon State Univ. campus: northeast corner of parking lot across from McNary dorm. on Jefferson (compare to adjacent Viburnum opulus).
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plant habit, spring flowering
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leaves and flower clusters
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flower cluster and leaves
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leafy shoot
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leaves
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leafy shoot, comparison
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leaves, comparison
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plant habit, summer
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immature fruit and leaves
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mature fruit and leaves
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plant habit and leaf, fall
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twigs and buds, winter
