A deciduous shrub growing to 4-5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, three-lobed, 5-10 cm long and broad, with a rounded base and coarsely serrated margins. The leaf buds are green, with are valvate bud scales. The flowers are white, produced in corymbs 4-11 cm diameter at the top of the stems; each corymb comprises a ring of outer sterile flowers 1.5-2 cm diameter with conspicuous petals, surrounding a center of small (5 mm), fertile flowers. The fruit is a globose bright red drupe 7-10 mm diameter, containing a single seed.

Antispasmodic, astringent and sedative (bark); antiscorbutic, emetic and laxative (leaves and fruits)

Viburnum opulus
Plants for a Future

Acetic acid, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, capric acid, citric acid, epicatechin, esculetin, malic acid, scopoletin (bark); arbutin (plant); astragalin (flower); beta-sitosterol, chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, tannin, ursolic acid (fruit)

To alleviate painful menstrual cramps (dried bark); for treating feminine problems after birth, preventing miscarriages and internal hemorrhages (herb)