Bloomipedia
Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium)
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Blackhaw

Viburnum prunifolium

Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) is a shrub or small tree in the Viburnaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Blackhaw is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

27states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
11,985U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia

Quick look

Viburnum prunifolium is a species of Viburnum native to eastern North America, from Connecticut west to eastern Kansas, and south to Alabama and Texas.

  • It belongs to the Viburnaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 27 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey. NatureServe
  • In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April. iNaturalist
  • In Maryland, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 16 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,468 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #70 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,625 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #80 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,260 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #76 among the 186 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,074 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
VirginiaNativeApril2,468
MarylandNativeApril–May1,625
New JerseyNativeApril–May1,260

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S5, secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S2), KS (S2), WI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Fruits can be eaten raw or used in jams and preserves.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Viburnum lentago (“Black Haw”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records blackhaw in 27 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Suffolk , Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, Wythe, York.

New Jersey counties with USDA records: Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Blackhaw a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.8 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
110
Annual precipitation range
35 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
18 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for VIPR. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Viburnum bushii.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 863 counties across 26 states; the most are in Kentucky (106), Missouri (100), Virginia (98).

Other Viburnum on Bloomipedia (11): Mapleleaf viburnum, Hobblebush, Guelder-rose, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, Northern wild raisin, Arrowwood viburnum, Squashberry, Laurustinus, Koreanspice viburnum.

More from the Viburnaceae family (14 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): American black elderberry, Red-berried elder, Blue elder.

More Virginia flowers

Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

Mapleleaf viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: May
American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American black elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: May–June
Japanese snowball viburnum (Viburnum plicatum)

Japanese snowball viburnum

Viburnum plicatum

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌼 Blooms in VA: April–May

Sources