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Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose)

Other names: Snowball tree, Water elder, Whitten tree, Ople tree, Red elder, Rose elder, Gatten tree, Marsh alder, Dog rowan, European cranberry bush, Crampbark, Dog eller, Cranberry

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Species
V. opulus is a deciduous shrub. Leaves are palmate and prominently veined. Flat clusters of white flowers appear in spring and summer, followed by bright red berries in autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
5 m 4 m 10-20 years
16 ft 13 ft 10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

Suggested uses

Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Wildlife, Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Sunset zone

A2, A3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Low
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright, Bushy

Native to

Europe, Northern Africa, Central Asia

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

Yes

Toxicity

Fruit can cause a mild stomach upset if ingested.

Plant care

Pruning

Pruning group 1 after flowering if fruit is not desired.

Propagation methods

Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings

Pests

Viburnum whitefly

Aphids

Viburnum beetle

Diseases

Leaf spot

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late-summer

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (autumn or spring)

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Take softwood cuttings

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (107)

Viburnum

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Viburnum (any deciduous variety)
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Viburnum (any evergreen variety)
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Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Nanum Semperflorens'
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Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Nanum Semperflorens' Japanese snowball 'Nanum Semperflorens'
Viburnum tinus 'Variegatum'
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Viburnum tinus 'Variegatum' Variegated laurustinus
Viburnum x burkwoodii
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Viburnum x burkwoodii Burkwood viburnum
Viburnum nudum
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Viburnum nudum American withe rod
Viburnum carlesii 'Diana'
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Viburnum carlesii 'Diana' Arrowwood 'Diana'
Viburnum tinus 'Lisarose'
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Viburnum tinus 'Lisarose' Laurustinus 'Lisarose'
Viburnum dentatum 'Synnestvedt'
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Viburnum dentatum 'Synnestvedt' Southern arrowwood 'Synnestvedt'
Viburnum opulus 'Park Harvest'
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Viburnum opulus 'Park Harvest' Guelder rose 'Park Harvest'
Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'
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Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price' Laurustinus 'Eve Price'
Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Mariesii'
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Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Mariesii' Japanese snowball 'Mariesii'
Viburnum x carlcephalum
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Viburnum x carlcephalum Fragrant snowball
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Charles Lamont'
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Viburnum x bodnantense 'Charles Lamont' Arrowwood 'Charles Lamont'
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'
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Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' Arrowwood 'Dawn'
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Deben'
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Viburnum x bodnantense 'Deben' Arrowwood 'Deben'
Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Anne Russell'
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Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Anne Russell' Arrowwood 'Anne Russell'
Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Fulbrook'
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Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Fulbrook' Arrowwood 'Fulbrook'
Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Park Farm Hybrid'
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Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Park Farm Hybrid' Arrowwood 'Park Farm Hybrid'
Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora'
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Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora' Arrowwood 'Aurora'
Viburnum lantana
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Viburnum lantana Wayfaring tree
Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'
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Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' Snowball
Viburnum opulus 'Xanthocarpum'
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Viburnum opulus 'Xanthocarpum' Yellow-fruited guelder rose
Viburnum plicatum 'Grandiflorum'
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Viburnum plicatum 'Grandiflorum' Japanese snowball 'Grandiflorum'
Viburnum plicatum 'Pink Beauty'
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Viburnum plicatum 'Pink Beauty' Japanese snowball 'Pink Beauty'
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Companion plants (2)

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Magnolia grandiflora
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Magnolia grandiflora Bull bay
Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol'
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Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol' Holly 'JC van Tol'
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Related content

Discuss Viburnum opulus with other Shoot members

Viburnum opulus

Shoot User
949 0
The large clusters of round, brilliant red, glossy - almost translucent - fruits remain on the plant throughout the winter and look particularly attractive against a background of snow, at least until they are eaten by birds. The common name 'guelder' comes from Gelderland, the Dutch province where the tree was first taken into cultivation.
Posted: Tuesday 2nd of June 2009 03:36 PM Last reply: Thursday 27th of February 2025 07:24 PM
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