guelder-rose

Viburnum opulus

The guelder-rose is a lovely shrub with beautiful white flowers that bloom in spring. It has bright red berries in the fall, which are fun to look at, but they are not safe to eat!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The guelder-rose is a deciduous shrub with lobed, maple-like green leaves that turn vibrant red or purple in autumn. It boasts flat-topped clusters of delicate white flowers in spring, followed by bright, glossy red berries in late summer.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderDipsacalesFamilyViburnaceaeGenusViburnum

guelder-rose

Interesting facts

Despite its name, it's a honeysuckle relative, not a true rose!

Its big, lacy flower clusters look like snowflakes when they bloom in spring!

Some people call it 'cramp bark' because old remedies used it for muscle aches!

The wood was historically used for arrows, earning it the name 'arrowwood'!

Special abilities

Its bright red berries attract many birds, which then help spread the guelder-rose's seeds far and wide.

Large, showy outer flowers attract pollinators to smaller inner ones, ensuring good seed production.

Measurements & details

Height: 200-500 cm
Spread: 200-400 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

Berries provide winter food.

pollinates

Honeybee

Apis mellifera

Attracts bees with nectar and pollen.

eaten by

Viburnum aphid

Aphis viburni

Aphids feed on young shoots and leaves.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.