Sheepberry
Viburnum lentago
Last reviewed: September 2026
Viburnum lentago, or nannyberry, is a multi-stemmed shrub that produces clusters of small white flowers in May and June. It grows well in part sun with medium soil moisture across the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and parts of the Great Plains.
Sheepberry (Viburnum lentago) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
144"–240" H × 72"–144" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
CT, GA, IA, IL and 22 more states
Pollinators
native bees, syrphid flies, beetles
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A large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with arching branches, creamy flat-topped flower clusters, and blue-black fruit on red stalks. Glossy leaves turn purple-red in fall. It suckers slowly and can be limbed up as a small specimen tree.
Growing Sheepberry
Grow Sheepberry in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 144 to 240 inches tall and spread 72 to 144 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Fruit persists into winter and is eaten by thrushes, waxwings and grouse; the dense branching offers nesting cover.
Common questions
- When does Viburnum lentago bloom?
- Viburnum lentago blooms in May and June, producing flat clusters of small white flowers at the branch tips.
- What pollinators are attracted to Viburnum lentago?
- The flowers draw native bees, syrphid flies, and beetles, which visit for pollen and nectar.
- How much light does Viburnum lentago need to grow well?
- It does best in part sun but tolerates a range from full sun to part shade, especially at woodland edges.
- How much water does Viburnum lentago need?
- It prefers medium soil moisture but can tolerate wetter sites near streambanks as well as drier upland soils once established.
- Is Viburnum lentago a shrub or a tree?
- It typically grows as a large, multi-stemmed shrub, though older plants can develop a small tree-like form with age.
- Is Sheepberry toxic to dogs?
- Sheepberry is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Sheepberry toxic to cats?
- Sheepberry is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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