Factsheet S36: The Viburnums

The Viburnums are a large group of deciduous and evergreen shrubs or small trees mainly from the northern temperate regions of the world. They bear simple opposite leaves and heads of white or cream flowers, sometimes fragrant.
Fruits are generally ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, red blue or black, with one large seed surrounded by a thin layer of flesh. The fruits of many Viburnums are edible, but the quality varies between species and within the same species. Some are sweet and pleasant, while others are bitter and perhaps best left to the birds as a sacrificial crop to tempt them away from fruit more desirable to humans! Fruit colours described in below are the final ripe colours.