Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-leaf viburnum)

Viburnum acerifolium L.

Viburnum acerifolium L. var. acerifolium

Viburnum acerifolium L. var. densiflorum (Chapm.) McAtee

Viburnum acerifolium L. var. glabrescens Rehder

Viburnum acerifolium L. var. ovatum (Rehder) McAtee

Viburnum densiflorum Chapm.

Maple-leaf viburnum, arrow-wood, maple-leaf arrowwood, maple-leaved viburnum, maple-leaf arrow-wood

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Dipsacales	Includes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others
Family	Adoxaceae	Elders and viburnums
Genus	Viburnum	Latin for “a kind of shrub”
Species	acerifolium	Means “with leaves like a maple”

About plant names...

Maple-leaved viburnum is a native of North America. Viburnum means “wayfaring tree,” and acerifolium means “maple-like.”

Identification: These shrubs are 4-6' (1.2-1.8 m) tall and 3-4' (91-121 cm) around. Leaves are dark green, three-lobed, 2-4" (5-10 cm) long, occurring in opposite pairs. It is the maple-like leaf shape that distinguishes this species from other viburnums. In the fall, leaves are orange, red, or purple. White flowers are in ball-shaped, flat-topped, or spike-shaped clusters, and have a somewhat disagreeable odor. The individual flowers are less than ¼" (6.3 mm) across. Berries go from green to red to blue-purple to almost black in color; they are about ¼" (6.3 mm) around.

See this comparison table showing Viburnums that are presently in our database, or this nicely done Viburnum species guide.

Flowers. Photo from nps.gov.

Online References:

Viburnum acerifolium on www.carolinanature.com

Viburnum acerifolium at Illinois Wildflowers

Viburnum acerifolium at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Viburnum acerifolium at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Viburnum acerifolium on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Viburnum acerifolium on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 10 cm)

10/10/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

Viburnum acerifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm)

8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain

9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 13 cm)

9/22/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 11 cm)

6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 12 cm)

Range:

About this map...