When does American cranberrybush bloom?

Viburnum trilobum flowers in May and June, producing flat-topped clusters of white blooms before its red fruit develops later in the season.

What pollinators visit this shrub?

The flowers of Viburnum trilobum attract native bees and syrphid flies, which feed on the nectar and pollen produced in the spring blooms.

How much sun and water does it need?

This shrub grows best in full sun to part shade and prefers medium to consistently moist soil, tolerating wetter sites along streambanks and low woodland edges.

What kind of habitat suits Viburnum trilobum?

It grows well in cooler climates with cold winters, often found along stream edges, moist woodland borders, and low-lying thickets where soil stays evenly moist.

American cranberrybush

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Viburnum trilobum

Last reviewed: September 2026

Viburnum trilobum is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that blooms in May and June with flat white flower clusters, doing best in moist to medium soil and full sun to part shade.

Toxicity unknown

American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

96"–144" H × 96"–144" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

CT, IA, ID, IL and 21 more states

Pollinators

native bees, syrphid flies

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Great Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands

A dense shrub with maple-like three-lobed leaves, lacecap flower clusters ringed by showy sterile florets, and translucent scarlet fruit that hangs well into winter. Fall foliage runs burgundy to red.

Growing American cranberrybush

Grow American cranberrybush in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 96 to 144 inches tall and spread 96 to 144 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Fruit persists past hard frost and becomes critical late-winter forage for waxwings and thrushes.

Common questions

When does American cranberrybush bloom?: Viburnum trilobum flowers in May and June, producing flat-topped clusters of white blooms before its red fruit develops later in the season.
What pollinators visit this shrub?: The flowers of Viburnum trilobum attract native bees and syrphid flies, which feed on the nectar and pollen produced in the spring blooms.
How much sun and water does it need?: This shrub grows best in full sun to part shade and prefers medium to consistently moist soil, tolerating wetter sites along streambanks and low woodland edges.
What kind of habitat suits Viburnum trilobum?: It grows well in cooler climates with cold winters, often found along stream edges, moist woodland borders, and low-lying thickets where soil stays evenly moist.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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