Plant Details

Viburnum lentago

Sheepberry

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Common names

15 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Schapenbes
French
  • viorne flexible[2]
  • Viorne à feuilles luisantes
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 樱桃叶荚蒾[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 細枝莢蒾[2]
Czech
  • kalina severoamerická[2]
Estonian
  • kanada lodjapuu[2]
Finnish
  • kiiltoheisi[2]
Ojibwe
  • Aditedaamin (Atîte'tamînûn, Aditeminagaanwanzh)[2]
Russian
  • Калина канадская[2]
Slovak
  • kalina severoamerická[2]
Swedish
  • glansolvon[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Viburnum lentago L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Nannyberry — VernacularName.tsv, line 152507; taxon 7G2RM.
[2] Viburnum lentago — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • nannyberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • Wild Raisin — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • kiiltoheisi — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • kalina severoamerická — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • Калина канадская — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • Aditedaamin (Atîte'tamînûn, Aditeminagaanwanzh) — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • viorne flexible — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • kanada lodjapuu — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • glansolvon — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • 細枝莢蒾 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • 樱桃叶荚蒾 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.
  • kalina severoamerická — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 54773; Viburnum lentago.

General information

Scientific name: Viburnum lentago
Accepted name (Kew): Viburnum lentago L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Viburnaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Viburnum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sheepberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small, Medium
Height: 4.57–5.49 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 2.44–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Arching, Open

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt)
Sources [3]
pH:
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Hedge, Wood

Description

Fruits: edible both raw and cooked. Sheep berries can be dried to preserve them for winter. The fruits vary in size and quality, but the ideal size is about 15 mm long. They are juicy, sweet, and fleshy. Despite their pleasant taste, they have a thick skin and large seeds. It is said that the fruits taste best after frost, but they can sometimes be drier then.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 187028; name ID 2456153; Viburnum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 185169; name ID 2455917; Viburnum lentago L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Viburnum lentago

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2758748, ID 7G2RM: Viburnum lentago L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Viburnum lentago — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .