Plant Details

Viburnum opulus

Highbush cranberry

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Common names

46 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • cramp bark[2]
  • cranberry viburnum[2]
  • European cranberry bush[2]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (31)
Dutch
  • Gelderse roos[2]
French
  • Boule de neige
  • viorne obier[2]
Belarusian
  • Каліна звычайная[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲荚蒾[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲莢蒾[2]
Cree
  • nîpiminâna[2]
Czech
  • kalina obecná[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik lodjapuu[2]
Finnish
  • koiranheisi[2]
German
  • Gemeiner Schneeball[2]
  • Gewöhnlicher Schneeball[1]
Hungarian
  • Kányabangita[2]
Irish
Italian
  • Palla di neve[2]
  • Viburno oppio[2]
Korean
Latvian
  • Parastā irbene[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastasis putinas[2]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
  • Aniibmiin (Aniibiminagaawashk)[2]
Polish
  • Kalina koralowa[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Калина обыкновенная[2]
Slovak
  • kalina obyčajná[2]
Slovenian
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Калина звичайна[2]
  • Калина червона[2]
  • Червона калина[2]
Welsh
  • Gwifwrnwydd y gors[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 opulus L. ↗

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

Source records
  • Gewöhnlicher Schneeball (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 152511; taxon 5BCCB.
  • Guelder-rose — VernacularName.tsv, line 152512; taxon 5BCCB.
  • Highbush Cranberry — VernacularName.tsv, line 152513; taxon 5BCCB.
  • Snowball Tree (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 152514; taxon 5BCCB.
[2] Viburnum opulus — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • guelder-rose — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • guelder rose — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • cramp bark — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • gelderse roos — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • viorne obier — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • water elder — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Gemeiner Schneeball — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • highbush cranberry — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • snowball tree — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • cranberry viburnum — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • European cranberry bush — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • koiranheisi — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • caneleiro — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Калина обыкновенная — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • kalina obecná — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Kvalkved — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • mundillo — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • korsved — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Kalina koralowa — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Palla di neve — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Viburno oppio — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Paprastasis putinas — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • harilik lodjapuu — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Kányabangita — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Aniibmiin (Aniibiminagaawashk) — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • kalina obyčajná — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • 欧洲荚蒾 — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • skogsolvon — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • olvon — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • noveleiro — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • 歐洲莢蒾 — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • gilaburu — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Калина червона — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Каліна звычайная — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • brogovita — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • nîpiminâna — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Parastā irbene — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Călin — results[1].names[38]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Калина звичайна — results[1].names[39]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Червона калина — results[1].names[40]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Caor chon — results[1].names[41]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Aliguer — results[1].names[42]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • Gwifwrnwydd y gors — results[1].names[43]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.
  • 불두화 — results[1].names[44]; taxon id 55969; Viburnum opulus.

General information

Scientific name: Viburnum opulus
Accepted name (Kew): Viburnum opulus 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: Highbush cranberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.66–4.88 m

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

Sources [3]
Spread: 2.44–4.57 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, Dense, Erect, Multi-stemmed, Rounded, Spreading

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

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

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, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Fruit: edible both raw and cooked. The fruit is juicy but has a sour taste, which is best after frost. They are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good alternative to cranberries. They are often used in jam. The fruits have a diameter of about 8 mm and typically contain a large seed.

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 186789; name ID 2458547; Viburnum opulus L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 1462913, ID 5BCCB: Viburnum opulus L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Viburnum opulus — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 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 .