Bloomipedia
Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus)
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Guelder-rose

Viburnum opulus

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
6of our state lists
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.

  • 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 109 flowers on our Wisconsin list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,554 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #44 among the 110 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,540 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #63 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist

Guelder-rose gift ideas

Handmade guelder-rose gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Guelder-rose art print

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    Guelder-rose sticker

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (614 records)
Bloom time in each of our 6 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WisconsinNativeMay–June2,773
MinnesotaNativeMay–June2,554
MichiganIntroducedMay–June2,540
VermontIntroducedMay–June1,324
IndianaNativeMay1,031
IowaNativefew records312

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
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
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.
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
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.

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.

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Sources