Japanese Cranberry, Linden Arrow-wood, Linden viburnum
Viburnum dilatatum

Family: Adoxaceae

What it is like

A bushy shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 3 m tall and spreads 2.4 m wide. The leaves are large and rounded or oval. They have teeth along the edge. They turn red in autumn. The flowers are creamy white and star shaped. They occur in clusters. The fruit are oval and bright red.

There are about 150 Viburnum species. Also put in the family Caprifoliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In southern China it grows on the edges of forests between 100-1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-8. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Japan (country/location of origin), Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten fresh when ripe. The fruit can be boiled into a porridge with juice from the stems.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed, stem cuttings or by layering.

Its other names

Local names

Gamazumi, Pu tong a bo, Yosozome, Yotsuzumi

Synonyms

Viburnum brevipes Rehder; Viburnum dilatatum var. dilatatum; Viburnum fulvotomentosum P. S. Hsu;