# mapleleaf viburnum (*Viburnum acerifolium*) The mapleleaf viburnum is a lovely shrub with beautiful leaves that look like maple leaves! It produces small white flowers in spring and bright red berries in the fall, which are enjoyed by birds. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 58 - **Habitat:** Forests ![mapleleaf viburnum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Viburnum_acerifolium.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jomegat, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_acerifolium.jpg) ## Appearance The mapleleaf viburnum is an upright shrub with distinctive three-lobed leaves resembling a maple. It has flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers in spring, followed by berries that transition from green to red, then finally dark blue-black. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Viburnum ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's not a maple tree, but a viburnum shrub! - Its dark berries often cling through winter, a vital food source for birds! - Its leaves often have tiny, soft hairs, making them feel wonderfully fuzzy! - Its scientific name means 'maple-leaved' as its leaves truly mimic a maple's! ## Special abilities - **Shadow Weaver:** Mapleleaf viburnum can thrive in shady forest understories, letting it grow where many other plants struggle. - **Autumn Blaze:** It has leaves that turn a brilliant purplish-red in fall, making it stand out in the forest. - **Color Signal:** Its berries change from green to red to black, signaling to hungry birds when they are perfectly ripe. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-250 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 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*) — Feeds on its ripe, dark berries. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its tender leaves and twigs. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Relies on its berries as winter food. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [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. - [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 look but don't touch the berries unless an adult says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify mapleleaf 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 mapleleaf viburnum? 150-250 cm ### How wide does mapleleaf viburnum spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on mapleleaf viburnum? 0.3-0.6 cm ### When does mapleleaf viburnum bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is mapleleaf viburnum edible? No ### Is mapleleaf viburnum toxic? Mild ### What is mapleleaf viburnum's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Blackbird State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackbird-state-forest) — Delaware, US · Forest - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [East Plymouth Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-plymouth-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Fort Payne Boom Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-boom-town-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see mapleleaf viburnum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mapleleaf-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: [Mapleleaf Viburnum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mapleleaf-viburnum)