Blackhaw
Viburnum prunifolium
Click or tap the section titles below to learn more about this species!
CLASSIFICATION: What’s in a name?
Scientific Name: Viburnum prunifolium. The genus Viburnum is Latin for “wayfaring tree”, the common name for a European species commonly planted along paths and roads.5 The epithet prunifolium means plum-leaved, referring to the similarity in leaf shape to that of plums (Prunus).
Common Name: Blackhaw. Other common names include Blackhaw Viburnum and Wild Raisin. The latter refers to the wrinkled fruit.
Family: Viburnaceae (Viburnum family). This family contains many species in the genus Viburnum which are common in horticulture, as well as elderberries (Sambucus).
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: 8-20 feet
Description: A large shrub or small tree with arching branches, oval leaves with toothed margins oriented opposite each other on the stem, and flat-topped clusters of white flowers which bloom in the spring after the leaves begin to emerge. Blackhaw fruits are an oval drupe, ripening late in fall and are blue-black and often wrinkled like a raisin. Blackhaw bark is brown and divided into small square or rounded plates similar to flowering dogwood (Benthamidia florida).
Bloom time: Mar – May
Notes: This is one of several native Viburnums in Virginia. Most similar are nannyberry (V. lentago), which has leaves with an elongate point at the tip, it is found at high elevations in Virginia, and rusty blackhaw (V. rufidulum), with leaves which are shiny above and have rusty hairs below. It is uncommon and found mostly in southern Virginia.7
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Range: Widespread across Virginia, documented in almost every county.6 Ranges from New York south to Georgia and west to eastern Texas and Iowa.1
Geology/Soil: Found on a wide variety of geologic formations and soil types, but most frequent in nutrient-rich soils.
Habitat: Oak-hickory forests, rich slope forests, floodplains, seepage swamp hummocks, thickets, dry woodlands.4
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: Occurs with many other native plant species over its large range. Common associates include red maple (Acer rubrum), tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), hickories (Carya spp.), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), eastern woodland sedge (Carex blanda), and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).
Fauna associations: Many species of native bees visit the flowers. The fruit are an important late fall and winter food source for many bird species, including white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), and various thrushes. Native viburnums also serve as larval hosts for several moths including the hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe), pink prominent (Hyparpax aurora), and Virginia creeper sphinx (Darapsa myron).3
Human associations: Over time, people have found a variety of medicinal and other uses for Blackhaw. The Cherokee use this plant to treat fever, spasms, and sore tongue, and the ripe fruit are edible.2
We want these plants to thrive and for everyone who gets to visit the park to enjoy them, so remember – don’t pick flowers or other parts of the plant!!
Bibliography & Definitions
1 “2013 BONAP North American Plant Atlas. TaxonMaps.” Bonap.net, bonap.net/Napa/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Viburnum. Accessed 28 June 2024.
2 “BRIT – Native American Ethnobotany Database.” Naeb.brit.org, naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=viburnum+prunifolium. Accessed 28 June 2024.
3 Hilty, John. “Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium).” Www.illinoiswildflowers.info, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/blackhaw.htm. Accessed 28 June 2024.
4 LeGrand, Harry, et al. “Vascular Plants of North Carolina.” Ncparks.gov, 2019, auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php.
5 “Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana).” Woodland Trust, www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/wayfaring-tree/#:~:text=A%20welcome%20sign%20you. Accessed 28 June 2024.
6 Virginia Botanical Associates. “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Search Results for Viburnum.” Vaplantatlas.org, 2024, www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?s=viburnum&c=&do=search%3Aadvanced&search=Search. Accessed 28 June 2024.
7 Weakley, Alan, and SE Flora Team. “Flora of the Southeastern US.” Fsus.ncbg.unc.edu, 2024, fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=index.php.