# linden viburnum (*Viburnum dilatatum*) The linden viburnum is a beautiful shrub with lovely white flowers that bloom in spring. It has bright red berries in the fall that birds love to eat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![linden viburnum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Viburnum_dilatatum_'Erie'.jpg&width=800) Photo: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_dilatatum_'Erie'.jpg) ## Appearance The linden viburnum is a dense shrub with deeply veined, dull green leaves resembling those of a linden tree. In late spring, it bursts with creamy white flower clusters, followed by vibrant, glossy red berries that persist into winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Viburnum ## Interesting facts - It gets its 'linden' name because its crinkly leaves look a lot like linden tree leaves! - Its leaves transform into a dazzling display of yellow, orange, and red hues each autumn! - The tiny flowers, though small, team up in big clusters to create a magnificent show! - These berries, while beautiful, are a 'no-go' snack for humans, but a feast for birds! ## Special abilities - **Winter Food Cache:** Linden viburnum has bright red berries that cling to its branches, providing crucial food for birds through cold winter months. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Its creamy white flower clusters emit a sweet scent, acting as a strong signal to attract helpful insect pollinators from afar. - **Habitat Haven:** The dense, branching structure of the linden viburnum creates excellent shelter and nesting spots for small birds and mammals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-300 cm - **Spread:** 200-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feasts on its persistent red berries in winter. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits sweet-scented flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and young stems, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Consumes its abundant red berries throughout the colder months. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring nature and don't eat any berries unless an adult says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify linden viburnum? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is linden viburnum? 200-300 cm ### How wide does linden viburnum spread? 200-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on linden viburnum? 0.5-1 cm ### When does linden viburnum bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is linden viburnum edible? No ### Is linden viburnum toxic? Mild ### What is linden viburnum's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Rutgers Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Ridley Creek State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ridley-creek-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Lake Roland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-roland) — Maryland, US · Park - [Bandai-Asahi National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bandai-asahi-national-park) — Tohoku / Chubu, JP · Park - [Raglan Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/raglan-road-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Setonaikai National Park: a Goshikidai nature day](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/setonaikai-national-park-goshikidai) — Kansai / Chugoku / Shikoku / Kyushu, JP · Park [View all places to see linden viburnum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/linden-viburnum) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Linden Viburnum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/linden-viburnum)