Common Name: Sheepberry

General Information

Viburnum lentago is a robust deciduous shrub or a tree that can grow up to 9 metres tall, though is usually smaller in cultivation[, , ]. The plant can sucker from the base to form a cluster of stems[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a hedge.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Northern N. America - Saskatchewan to Quebec, south to Colorado, Missouri and Virginia

Habitat

Low woods, woodland edges, swamp borders, and rich valleys at or near streambanks, usually in rich loam to clay-loam soil. It also occurs in moist soil of wooded slopes and other upland sites, sometimes even in sandy or rocky soil[, , , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Viburnum lentago is a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations[]. It prefers a deep rich loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[, ]. Best if given shade from the early morning sun in spring[]. Plants can tolerate quite dense shade[].
The flowers are agreeably fragrant[].
As the fruit becomes over-ripe and commences to rot on the plant, it develops an odour of wet sheep wool[].
Plants transplant easily[].
Very tolerant of pruning[]. Any pruning is best carried out immediately after flowering in order to promote flowering the following year[].
A fast-growing but short-lived species in the wild[]. It readily sprouts from the roots and forms thickets, a habit that is undesirable in small gardens[]. The plants grow well, but do not usually fruit well in Britain[, ]. This is probably because they are self-incompatible and need to grow close to a genetically distinct plant in the same species in order to produce fruit and fertile seed[, ].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , , , , ]. A sweet flavour[]. It can also be dried for winter use[]. The blue-black, oval fruit is variable in size and quality, the best being about 15mm long, pulpy, very sweet, somewhat juicy and pleasant tasting but with a thick skin and a single large seed[, , , , , ]. The fruit is said to be best after a frost[] but it is sometimes dry[].

Medicinal

The bark is antispasmodic[].

A decoction of the roots has been used to treat irregular menstruation and the spitting of blood[].

An infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of measles[]. An infusion of the leaves has been drunk, or a poultice of leaves applied, in the treatment of dysuria[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a tall hedge or screen in N. America[, ].

Other Uses

Wood - heavy, hard, close grained, malodorous[, ]. Of no commercial value due to the small size of the trees[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking more than 18 months. If the seed is harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has fully ripened) and sown immediately in a cold frame, it should germinate in the spring[]. Stored seed will require 2 months warm then 3 months cold stratification and can still take 18 months to germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of soft-wood, early summer in a frame[]. Pot up into individual pots once they start to root and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8 cm long with a heel if possible, mid summer in a frame[, ]. Plant them into individual pots as soon as they start to root. These cuttings can be difficult to overwinter, it is best to keep them in a greenhouse or cold frame until the following spring before planting them out[].
Cuttings of mature wood, winter in a frame. They should root in early spring - pot them up when large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if sufficient new growth is made, otherwise keep them in a cold frame for the next winter and then plant them out in the spring.
Layering - plants will often self-layer in the wild[].
Layering of current seasons growth in mid summer. Takes 15 months[].