Bloomipedia
Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)
Photo: Annie Evankow via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Hobblebush

Viburnum lantanoides

Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) is a shrub in the Viburnaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Hobblebush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

17states where USDA records it
5Bloomipedia state lists include it
20,465U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont

Quick look

Viburnum lantanoides is a perennial shrub of the family Viburnaceae, growing 2–4 meters (6.6–13.1 ft) high with pendulous branches that take root where they touch the ground. These rooted branches form obstacles which easily trip walkers – hence the common name.

  • It belongs to the Viburnaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 17 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Maine and Massachusetts. NatureServe
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May. 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 10 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 5,702 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #3 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,638 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #5 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,994 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #76 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,822 records)
Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New HampshireNativeMay–June5,702
VermontNativeMay3,638
New YorkNativeApril–May2,994
MaineNativeMay2,354
MassachusettsNativeApril–May2,172

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 5 states.
See each state
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (SH), KY (S1), NJ (S1), OH (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: “Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked” 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 hobblebush in 17 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Monroe, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Oswego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schuyler, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Hobblebush a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.9 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
4.9 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
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, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for VILA11. 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: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Viburnum alnifolium, Viburnum grandifolium.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 181 counties across 15 states; the most are in New York (38), Pennsylvania (38), Maine (16).

Other Viburnum on Bloomipedia (11): Mapleleaf viburnum, Guelder-rose, 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 New Hampshire flowers

American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American black elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: June–July
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in New Hampshire gardens
Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in New Hampshire gardens

Sources