Viburnum edule aka Mooseberry

Viburnum edule is a deciduous shrub known as moosewood or squashberry. Its native range includes the northern Russian Far East. It also spans subarctic North America and western and northern United States. It grows in woods, thickets, and on cool mountain slopes. Some eastern states list local populations as threatened or endangered. This does not establish a global threat rating.

In gardens, it can reach about 8 feet [2.5 metres]. Broader accounts give heights of 2–12 feet [0.6–3.7 metres]. Its form ranges from loose and upright to dense and rounded. Arching stems carry smooth gray bark. Young twigs are shiny and light reddish brown. Green buds have two visible scales and short stalks. The leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stems. Each leaf is simple, with a round to broad oval shape. Lower leaves often have three short lobes like maple leaves. Upper leaves may lack lobes. Coarse teeth line the edges, and hairs follow the lower veins.

Small white flowers grow in flat clusters at shoot tips. Bloom can run from May to August, depending on location. Plants For A Future gives June as the flowering month. Insects pollinate the flowers, which contain male and female parts. Fruit set may need a nearby plant with different genes. The juicy drupes turn orange or red and ripen in fall. Each fruit holds one seed, which is large and flattened. Their bright color adds interest after the flowers have gone.

Grow this shrub in sun or partial shade with moist soil. It favors deep, rich loam but also grows in heavy clay. Sandy soil can suit it if conditions meet its needs. Poor soil and dry sites are less suitable. It prefers slight acidity but tolerates neutral and mildly alkaline soil. Plants For A Future recommends shelter from early spring morning sun. Its listed USDA range is 4–8; Oregon State gives zone 5. It suits woodland edges and sites with dappled shade. Seed can take more than 18 months to sprout.

The fruit is edible raw or cooked and suits jelly. People also dry it for later use. Reports differ on whether frost improves the harvest. Flowers have been used in fritters. Plants For A Future reports no recorded toxicity for this species. That statement does not establish safety for pets. Traditional uses include bark and stems for coughs and sore throats. These reports do not prove medical benefit. People have also used stems to strengthen birch-bark basket rims.