# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![southern arrowwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Viburnum_dentatum_flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society/James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_dentatum_flowers.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Viburnum ## 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 - **Arrow Power:** Southern arrowwood can grow super straight, tough branches, used by indigenous people to craft strong, sturdy arrows for hunting. - **Berry Feast:** It has clusters of dark blue berries that offer a vital food source, providing energy for many different bird species. - **Wildlife Hideaway:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and twigs. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — Relies on its berries as a food source. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## 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 berries unless an adult says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify southern arrowwood? 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 southern arrowwood? 150-450 cm ### How wide does southern arrowwood spread? 150-450 cm ### How big are the flowers on southern arrowwood? 0.3-0.6 cm ### When does southern arrowwood bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is southern arrowwood edible? No ### Is southern arrowwood toxic? Mild ### What is southern arrowwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Long Branch Stream Valley Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-branch-stream-valley-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## 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: [Southern Arrowwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-arrowwood)