Viburnum cassinoides L.

Hardy, rounded, bushy, deciduous shrub with leathery, toothed, ovate leaves, to 10cm long, changing to scarlet in autumn, and flat clusters of yellowish-white flowers in summer, followed by red fruits which ripen to black.  To 2.4m.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1761.  [JD].  The common name of ‘Withe-rod’ or ‘Witherod viburnum’ suggests that it was used in the past for such purposes as wicker-work in a similar way to Willow shoots.  Willow is commonly called ‘Withe’ in central England (Warwickshire) at least.  Britton v.3 p.272/1913.

History at Camden Park

Viburnum cassinoides is marked with a ‘c’ in an 1836 edition of Loddiges’ catalogue held at Camden Park [CPA].  In William Macarthur’s code, used and explained elsewhere, this means grown at Camden.  It is almost certain that it was grown in the gardens around this time but may have been short lived as it did not appear in the catalogues.

Notes

Viburnum cassinoides Willd. (1798) = Viburnum obovatum Walt. which see.

Published Jul 10, 2009 - 05:15 PM | Last updated Jul 16, 2010 - 02:11 PM


More details about Viburnum cassinoides L.
Family Caprifoliaceae
Category
Region of origin

North America

Synonyms
  • Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides (L.) Torr. & A.Gray
Common Name

Wild raisin, Withe-rod

Name in the Camden Park Record

Viburnum cassinoides 

Confidence level high