Flower profile

Guelder-rose

Viburnum opulus

Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus) is a shrub or small tree in the Viburnaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Guelder-rose is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

30states where USDA records it

6Bloomipedia state lists include it

19,972U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin

Quick look

Viburnum opulus, commonly known as the guelder-rose, or guelder rose, is an Old World species of flowering plant in the family Viburnaceae.
From Wikipedia's article Viburnum opulus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 30 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa. ^NatureServe
NatureServe lists it as not native to Michigan and Vermont. ^NatureServe
In Wisconsin, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 12 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,773 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #45 among the 161 flowers on our Wisconsin list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,554 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #44 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,540 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #63 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (614 records)

Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Wisconsin	Native	May–June	2,773
Minnesota	Native	May–June	2,554
Michigan	Introduced	few records (43)	2,540
Vermont	Introduced	May–June	1,324
Indiana	Native	few records (30)	1,031
Iowa	Native	few records (8)	312

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

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 5 of our 6 states.

See each state

Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. ^{NR 27.03}
Minnesota: Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. ^{Minn. R. 6134.0300}
Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Iowa. ^{IAC 571-77.3}

Indiana

No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Indiana.

Rare elsewhere

Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ID (SH), WV (S1), WY (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.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S1 in Indiana. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Drupes can be eaten off the bush or used in jams.” ^{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

Edible or not, please don't pick this one. See the note under Conservation status.

🌿 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 guelder-rose in 30 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Iowa, Iron, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood.

Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Rice, Roseau, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Waseca, Washington, Wright.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Delta, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Washtenaw, Wayne.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Guelder-rose a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.2 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.2 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 110
Annual precipitation range: 30 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth: 14 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Red · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

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

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 406 counties across 26 states; the most are in Michigan (55), Wisconsin (54), Minnesota (50).

Other Viburnum on Bloomipedia (11): Mapleleaf viburnum, Hobblebush, Blackhaw, 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 Wisconsin flowers

American black elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WI: June–July

Red-berried elder

Sambucus racemosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in WI: April–May

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌼 Blooms in WI: May–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile VIOP.
iNaturalist, Viburnum opulus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Viburnum opulus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (11):
Show all 11 state lists
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Viburnum opulus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.