# Southern Wild Raisin (*viburnum nudum*)

The Southern Wild Raisin is a small shrub that produces beautiful white flowers! Its tasty berries are loved by many birds and animals!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Wetlands, riverbanks, and coastal areas.
- **Also known as:** Black Haw, Wild Raisin

![Southern Wild Raisin](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/35908012/medium.jpg)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Alan Weakley, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/35908012)

## Appearance

The Southern Wild Raisin is a deciduous shrub with glossy, dark green oval leaves that turn vibrant red or purple in autumn. It boasts flat-topped clusters of tiny, creamy white flowers, which later ripen into shiny, dark blue-black berries.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Dipsacales
- **Family:** Viburnaceae
- **Genus:** Viburnum

## Interesting facts

- Early settlers used to make delicious jelly from its wild, edible berries!
- Its dark berries surprisingly contain a natural sugar called xylitol!
- Native American tribes once used the plant's bark to create a reddish-brown dye!
- The 'nudum' in its name means 'naked' because its young branches are super smooth!

## Special abilities

- **Berry Beacon:** Southern Wild Raisin creates shiny, dark blue berries that signal a tasty snack for birds, helping spread its seeds far and wide.
- **Wetland Warrior:** Southern Wild Raisin has roots uniquely adapted to thrive in soggy, wet soils, allowing it to grow where many other plants can't survive.
- **Autumn Fire:** Its leaves burst into brilliant reds and purples in the fall, making it a dazzling sight and attracting attention in the forest.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 150-300 cm
- **Spread:** 100-250 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_early_summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats its nutritious berries
- **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits its flowers for nectar
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves and twigs
- **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — forages for its ripe berries

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [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.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Southern Wild Raisin?

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 Wild Raisin?

150-300 cm

### How wide does Southern Wild Raisin spread?

100-250 cm

### How big are the flowers on Southern Wild Raisin?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Southern Wild Raisin bloom?

Spring_to_early_summer

### Is Southern Wild Raisin edible?

Yes

### Is Southern Wild Raisin toxic?

None

### What is Southern Wild Raisin's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Wickford Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wickford-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*)

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Source: [Southern Wild Raisin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-wild-raisin)