Vick, Albert F. W.
Viburnum acerifolium L.
Mapleleaf viburnum, Maple-leaf viburnum, Arrow-wood, Maple-leaf arrow-wood
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)
Maple-leaf arrow-wood is a low, densely branched
shrub, 4-6 ft. tall and 3-4 ft. wide. Flat-topped clusters of white flowers are followed by berries turning from red to blue-black. Bright- to dark-green,
deciduous foliage, maple-like in shape, is very colorful in fall. A
shrub with maple-like leaves and small, white flowers or uniform size in flat topped clusters.
The distinctive, purplish-pink autumn foliage makes this one of our handsomest shrubs. Another
native Viburnum with 3-lobed leaves, Cranberry Viburnum (
V. opulus var. americanum), has large, showy, white, sterile outer flowers in each cluster and in late summer and autumn bears red fruits suitable for jam. Few-flowered Cranberry Bush (
V. edule), with red
fruit and only slightly lobed leaves, occurs at high elevations in the Northeast, extending far north into Canada.
Image Gallery:
11 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Opposite Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf Venation: Palmate Leaf Margin: Dentate Size Notes: Dense clumps to 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Green above, pale below.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: Flower 1 1/2 to 3 inches across
Fruit: Red turning purple or black.
Size Class: 6-12 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MS , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: NB ,
ON ,
QC Native Distribution: N.B. to Upper Peninsula MI, s. to FL & TX
Native Habitat: Thickets, Shaded woods. Mesic, mixed woods; bluffs; ravines
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Acid-based
Conditions Comments: Suckers profusely to form large, loose, open colonies. Susceptible to Viburnum Leaf Beetle.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Color, Blooms ornamental, Fruits ornamental, Fall conspicuous, Accent
tree or
shrub Use Wildlife: Birds eat the blue berries. Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-insects, Browse, Fruit-birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Spring Azure
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Viburnum acerifolium is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2010-05-08
