Plant Details

Viburnum nudum

Smooth Withe Rod, Possumhaw, Withe-rod, Swamp Haw, Smooth Witherod, Possum Haw Viburnum, Possum Haw

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Common names

21 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Possum Haw
  • Possum Haw Viburnum
  • Possumhaw[1][2]
+7 more namesShow fewer names
  • possumhaw viburnum[2]
  • Smooth Withe Rod
  • Smooth Witherod[2]
  • southern wild raisin[2]
  • Swamp Haw
  • wild raisin[2]
  • Withe-rod
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Sneeuwbal
French
  • Viorne nue
  • viorne à cymes pédonculées[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美国红荚蒾[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美國紅荚蒾[2]
Czech
  • kalina nahá[2]
Estonian
  • sile lodjapuu[2]
Finnish
Ojibwe
  • zhoominensan[2]
Russian
  • Калина горная[2]
Slovak
  • kalina nahá[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 nudum L. ↗

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

Source records
  • Possumhaw — VernacularName.tsv, line 152509; taxon 5BCBW.
[2] Viburnum nudum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • southern wild raisin — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • wild raisin — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • possumhaw viburnum — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • possumhaw — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • smooth witherod — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • Калина горная — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • kalina nahá — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • zhoominensan — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • sile lodjapuu — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • 美国红荚蒾 — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • 美國紅荚蒾 — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • viorne à cymes pédonculées — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • siloheisi — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.
  • kalina nahá — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 153200; Viburnum nudum.

General information

Scientific name: Viburnum nudum
Accepted name (Kew): Viburnum nudum 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: Smooth Withe Rod, Possumhaw, Withe-rod, Swamp Haw, Smooth Witherod, Possum Haw Viburnum, Possum Haw
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.52–3.66 m

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

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.52–3.66 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: Rounded, Spreading

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

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

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

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

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
None

Description

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Generally, it has a sweet taste, but sometimes it can also be bitter and even unpleasant. The egg-shaped fruit is about 8 mm long and contains one large seed.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
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 185715; name ID 2455856; Viburnum nudum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 1462901, ID 5BCBW: Viburnum nudum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Viburnum nudum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .