Witherod | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Elderberry
Family (botanic) Adoxaceae
Tree or plant type Shrub
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale North America
Size range Medium shrub (5-8 feet), Large shrub (more than 8 feet)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil, Wet soil
Tolerances Occasional flooding, Road salt, Wet sites
Season of interest mid spring, late spring, early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance White
Shape or form Arching, Multi-stemmed, Round
Growth rate Moderate, Slow

Size & form:

Witherod is a dense, compact, suckering shrub which grows 6 to 15 feet high and wide. It is often confused with possum-haw (Viburnum nudum).

Native geographic location and habitat:

Native to the northeastern United States and states along the Gulf Coast, witherod is often found in bogs and swamps.

Bark color and texture:

Smooth, gray-brown bark is dotted with lenticels.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Opposite, simple leaves are 3 to 4 inches long and elliptical with short pointed tips and finely serrated teeth margins. Leaves are medium green, with rust-colored dots along the mid-rib and leaf base. Fall color ranges from orange to red to purple.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Small creamy white flowers are borne in flat-topped clusters. They are unpleasantly scented.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Berry-like fruit changes from green to yellow, then pink, red, and black. All colors may be present in the same fruit cluster. Fruit tends to persist through much of fall.