southern arrowwood

Viburnum dentatum

Southern arrowwood is a lovely shrub that grows tall and has bright green leaves. In summer, it produces pretty white flowers that turn into blue berries, which birds love to eat!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The southern arrowwood is a deciduous shrub with a rounded, bushy form. It has clusters of small, creamy-white flowers in flat-topped cymes, followed by glossy dark blue or black berries. Its distinctive oval leaves have coarse, saw-like teeth along their edges.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderDipsacalesFamilyViburnaceaeGenusViburnum

southern arrowwood

Interesting facts

Ancient peoples used its straight, strong branches to make arrows, giving it its name!

Feel its rough, toothed leaves; they feel like tiny saws along the edges!

Look for tiny white flowers clustered together like mini dinner plates in spring!

Over 30 bird species rely on its dark blue berries for a crucial energy boost!

Special abilities

Southern arrowwood can grow super straight, tough branches, used by indigenous people to craft strong, sturdy arrows for hunting.

It has clusters of dark blue berries that offer a vital food source, providing energy for many different bird species.

Southern arrowwood has dense, bushy growth that creates perfect hiding and nesting spots for small animals and birds.

Measurements & details

Height: 150-450 cm
Spread: 150-450 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

Turdus migratorius

Feeds on its nutritious dark blue berries.

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Bees are common visitors to its white flowers.

eats

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Deer browse on its leaves and twigs.

eaten by

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Relies on its berries as a food source.

Traits

Deciduous

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

Shrub

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

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fruit Bearing

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

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Fall Color

Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.

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.