Viburnum lentago – Nannyberry

General Information: Dark green leaves adorn this native small tree or shrub. Leaves turn a showy maroon-red in fall.  A good “edimental” providing food for people and wildlife. A useful native selection for a permaculture landscape, or any hedge or garden, with a bonus of 3-season interest. Sometimes also called Sheepberry. The plant has historical medicinal uses as well, especially amongst Indigenous Peoples of North America.

Cultivation Details: These extremely cold-hardy plants naturally occur in woodlands and wood edges. Dense and multiple-stemmed when trained as a single-stem/tree form. Removing suckers is a chore, and the shrub will lose its vigor if maintained this way. Whenever possible, we recommend leaving a few suckers to allow the plant to naturally spread and form a hedge. Nannyberry is a great choice for rewilding. The plant is salt tolerant and attracts bees, birds, and pollinators. Creamy white flower clusters are borne on one-year-old branches, 2 to 3½ inches across. Makes an excellent cut flower. The fall-ripening fruits are also attractive and edible.

Edible Qualities: These plants are not self fertile. More than one is required for fruit set. Edible fruits are also called Wild Raisin because overripe fruits look like raisins. The flavor has hints of Banana, Prunes, and Raisins, with a slight spice. Fruits are eaten off the bush when ripe, dried for snacks, or used in desserts, purees, jams, and fruit leather. Fruits are green at first, ripening to a reddish-purple, then darkening to blue-black. They are juicy and contain one seed.

Growing Requirements: Plant in full sun to nearly full shade. Tolerant of most soil types. Prefers moist to wet, well-drained soils. Suitable in acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils.