# tea viburnum (*Viburnum setigerum*) Tea viburnum is a lovely shrub with beautiful clusters of white flowers. It grows berries that are enjoyed by birds, making it a great plant for gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![tea viburnum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Viburnum_setigerum_Kalina_herbaciana_2010-05-15_04.jpg&width=800) Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_setigerum_Kalina_herbaciana_2010-05-15_04.jpg) ## Appearance The tea viburnum is an upright, deciduous shrub featuring ovate, dark green leaves that turn reddish-purple in autumn. It produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers in late spring, followed by striking, bright orange to red berries that persist into winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Viburnaceae - **Genus:** Viburnum ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, the 'tea' viburnum isn't typically used for tea, but its leaves were once explored as a tea substitute! - In fall, its green leaves transform into stunning shades of purplish-red, adding a fiery glow to the garden! - Its scientific name, setigerum, means 'bristle-bearing,' hinting at tiny hairs on its leaves and stems! - The tea viburnum's cheerful red berries can last on branches all winter, even after the leaves have fallen! ## Special abilities - **Berry Beacon:** Tea viburnum's bright red berries act like a beacon, attracting birds to eat them and spread its seeds far and wide. - **Leafy Shelter:** Its dense branches and foliage create cozy hiding spots, offering shelter and safety for small birds and insects. - **Pollinator Party:** The small, creamy-white flowers host a party for insects, inviting them to help the plant make new seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-400 cm - **Spread:** 150-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Consumes the bright red berries, aiding seed dispersal - **Eaten by:** [Cedar waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Feeds on the persistent berries, especially in winter - **Eaten by:** Viburnum leaf beetle (*Pyrrhalta viburni*) — Larvae and adults feed on the leaves ## Traits - [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. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [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. - [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, as they might not be safe to eat. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify tea 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 tea viburnum? 200-400 cm ### How wide does tea viburnum spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on tea viburnum? 0.5-1 cm ### When does tea viburnum bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is tea viburnum edible? No ### Is tea viburnum toxic? None ### What is tea viburnum's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [White Oaks Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/white-oaks-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Lemon Road Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lemon-road-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: [Tea Viburnum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tea-viburnum)