Northern Wild Raisin

(Viburnum cassinoides)

Northern Wild Raisin (Viburnum cassinoides)

Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Cephas | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Viburnum_cassinoides_15-p.bot-viburnum.cas-005.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Location taken: Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Baltimore MD USA. Names: Wodyetia bifurcata A.K.Irvine, Fox Tail, Foxtail Palm, Hu Wei Ye Zi, Palmier Queue De Renard, Revehalepalme, Wodyetia

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Viburnum cassinoides, commonly known as Northern Wild Raisin, is a deciduous shrub native to wetland margins, swampy woods, and boggy areas in eastern North America. It typically grows 5-6 feet tall but can occasionally reach up to 12 feet, featuring dense, multi-stemmed foliage. This shrub produces clusters of small white flowers in late spring, which are moderately showy and attract pollinators. The flowers give way to edible drupes that change color from green to pink and finally to a dark blue as they mature. These berries are often used in desserts or eaten fresh and provide a valuable food source for birds.

Northern Wild Raisin is appreciated for its adaptability to moist soils and is an excellent choice for naturalized landscapes, rain gardens, or wildlife-friendly plantings. Its foliage, which can be used to make tea, turns a beautiful reddish-purple in the fall, adding seasonal interest. This shrub prefers partial shade to full sun and thrives in acidic, well-drained soils. While it is generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to leaf spot diseases and viburnum leaf beetle.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub
Height: 5-10 feet
Width: 5-8 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: White
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bird Garden, Border Plant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Hedges, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Wetland margins, swampy woods, and boggy areas

Other Names

Common Names: Withe-rod , Blue Haw , Possumhaw , Wild Raisin , Swamp Haw

Scientific Names: Viburnum cassinoides , Viburnum cassinoides subsp. nitidum , Viburnum cassinoides var. angustifolium , Viburnum cassinoides var. harbisonii , Viburnum cassinoides var. harbisonii , Viburnum cassinoides var. nitidum , Viburnum laevigatum , Viburnum nitidum , Viburnum nudum var. angustifolium , Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides

GBIF Accepted Name: