Viburnum opulus Seeds | European Cranberrybush

Flat, pale brown European Cranberrybush seeds with a deeply grooved surface, on a plain background — European Cranberrybush (*Viburnum opulus*): Adoxaceae, native to hedges, scrub and damp woods across Europe and western Asia.

LATIN NAME: Viburnum opulus

COMMON NAME: European Cranberrybush

Plant Profile

European Cranberrybush, the guelder rose, is a deciduous shrub of the muskroot family, three to five metres tall, with three-lobed, maple-like leaves that turn red and purple in autumn. In late spring it carries flat heads of white flowers, the outer ring of which is made up of large, sterile florets, and in autumn it hangs clusters of translucent red berries.

It grows in hedges, scrub and damp woods across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, and it is one of the shrubs that give an English hedgerow its autumn colour. The berries are mildly toxic raw and are cooked into preserves and drinks in eastern Europe.

Science & Biotechnology

The lace-cap flower head is a classic example of division of labour within an inflorescence: the large outer florets have no stamens or pistil and serve only to attract pollinators to the small fertile flowers in the centre. The same arrangement has evolved independently in several viburnums and in the hydrangeas.

Its bark is the source of cramp bark, a standard Western herbal remedy for menstrual cramps, and it contains scopoletin and other coumarins that have been studied for antispasmodic activity. The berries contain viburnin and are emetic if eaten raw, which is why they are always cooked before use. The berries are also rich in pectin, which is why they set so well in jelly.

Uses & Benefits

The berries are cooked into jelly, preserves and a traditional Russian and Polish drink, and they are used in some eastern European countries as a substitute for cranberry. The bark is collected in autumn for cramp bark tincture, and the wood is used for small turnery.

In the garden it is a plant for a damp hedge, a pond margin or a wild corner, where its spring flowers, autumn colour and winter berries give three seasons of interest. The cultivar ‘Roseum’, the snowball tree, has all its florets sterile and produces no berries, but it makes a spectacular late-spring display. In Russia the berries are steeped in honey or vodka as a winter drink.

Growing from Seed

Sow in autumn in a pot of moist compost and leave it outside for the winter; the seed has a deep dormancy and germination may be spread over two years. Sow thinly and keep the pot moist, since the seed will not tolerate drying out.

Plant out in sun or part shade in any moist but well-drained soil, and water through the first two summers. The shrub flowers and fruits on old wood, so prune only to remove the oldest stems and to keep the shape. It tolerates wet ground and is a good choice for a site that stays damp in winter.

Our Take

A hedgerow shrub with lace-cap flowers, red autumn leaves and translucent berries, and the source of cramp bark. It wants damp soil and room, and it gives three seasons in return.

Flower Seeds