Not long ago, we praised the cornets, a useful and beautiful group of trees and shrubs.
Equally interesting and easily mistaken for the cornets is the viburnum. Most of the 120 or more known species of the genus are native to the North temperate zone and belong to the honeysuckle family.
We are gradually learning to use our native plants to embellish our gardens. Among these, none are more striking than the viburnums, and most seem equally at home in the wild or shrubbery areas.
Viburnum Lentago “Sweet Viburnum”
All of the groups produce more or less flattened comes of white flowers in late spring, followed later by a large variety of berries or drupes.
These, besides being ornamental, are eagerly sought by the birds. The sweet viburnum or Nancy bush, Viburnum lentago, is beautiful enough to stand alone on the lawn.
It flourishes in rich, moist soil front Georgia to Indiana and Missouri and is hardy in New England.
Sometimes it attains the height of a tree. Its bluish-black, sweet berries are edible.
Viburnum Prunifolium “Black Haw”
This is also true of the black haw or stag bush, Viburnum prumfolium; as its Latin name indicates, its leaves suggest those of the plum tree.
Viburnum Cassinoides “Withe-rod”
The withe-rod, Viburnum cassinoides, has pink berries which turn deep blue.
Viburnum Dentatum “Arrow Wood”
The arrow wood, Viburnum dentatum, is a smooth gray-branched shrub once used by the Indians for making arrows.
It is at home in moist soil from the Georgia mountains northward.
Viburnum Aluminium “Hobble Bush”
A favorite native of our Northern woods is the hobblebush, Viburnum aluminium.
A root from New Hampshire was brought to me several years ago and seems happy growing in our woods.
It has two rows of flowers on its irregular white clusters; around the outer circle are showy, sham flowers.
These draw the attention of the bees to the inner circle of fertile flowers. Its unpoetic name hobble bush comes from its curious habit of growth.
Occasionally it sends its straggling branches downward, forming a loop on the ground that can easily trip the unwary traveler.
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