Squashberry
Viburnum edule
- Native to:
- Canada, Labrador, Russia, United States
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- Viburnum edule
- USDA Symbol:
- VIED
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 350 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, bears
- Fall Color:
- red, purple
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire. Common in boreal forest understory with natural fire regimes.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–270 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–365 days
- Notes:
- Requires warm stratification (3-5 months) followed by cold stratification (3-4 months). Germination can be erratic and may take two seasons.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: For seeds: Sow in flats in facultative soil mix, cover and store at 68-70°F for 3 months, then refrigerate at 40°F for 3 months. For cuttings: Recut at the base, remove 1/3 of the basal leaves, treat with 3000 ppm Hormex rooting powder, and place in rooting medium under mist with bottom heat for 7 weeks.
Establishment: Seeds are collected in early winter, while cuttings are collected in mid June after flowering. Cuttings produce well-branched roots 8 cm long.
Source: npn.rngr.net