Bloomipedia
Northern wild raisin (Viburnum cassinoides)
Photo: Lynn Harper via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Northern wild raisin

Viburnum cassinoides

Northern wild raisin (Viburnum cassinoides) is a shrub or small tree in the Viburnaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Maine

Northern wild raisin is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Maine it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

24states where USDA records it
1,555ME sightings*
4,811U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Maine

Quick look

Viburnum cassinoides, commonly known as northern wild raisin, blue haw, witherod viburnum, or swamp haw, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America in the viburnum family, Viburnaceae. It is often synonymized with Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides.

  • 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 24 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Maine. NatureServe
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 15 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,555 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #35 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Maine, most flowering sightings come in June–July.

Flowering records by month in Maine (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (83 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
T5 See NatureServe for what T5 means. NatureServe
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
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (SH), IN (S1), SC (S2), WI (S1). (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 peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. 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 Northern wild raisin in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Northern wild raisin 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 -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium
Soil pH range
4.9 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
110
Annual precipitation range
35 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Blue · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for VINUC. 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; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 345 counties across 21 states; the most are in Michigan (54), Pennsylvania (48), New York (40).

Other Viburnum on Bloomipedia (11): Mapleleaf viburnum, Hobblebush, Guelder-rose, Blackhaw, Japanese snowball viburnum, Nannyberry, 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 Maine flowers

Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)

Hobblebush

Viburnum lantanoides

Native

🌼 Blooms in ME: May
Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)

Mapleleaf viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in ME: June
Red-berried elder (Sambucus racemosa)

Red-berried elder

Sambucus racemosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in ME: May

Sources