Viburnum acerifolium L. var. densiflorum (Chapm.) McAtee
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. glabrescens Rehder
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. ovatum (Rehder) McAtee
Viburnum densiflorum Chapm.
Viburnum acerifolium L.
Maple-leaf viburnum, arrow-wood, maple-leaf arrowwood
Maple-leaved viburnum is a native of North America. Viburnum means “wayfaring tree,” and acerifolium means “maple-like.”
Plants: Shrubs are 4–6′ (1.2–1.8 m) tall and 3–4′ (91–121 cm) around.
Leaves: Dark green, three-lobed, 2–4″ (5–10 cm) long, occurring in opposite pairs. Their maple-like leaf shape distinguishes this species from other viburnums. In the fall, leaves are orange, red, or purple.
Flowers: White flowers are in ball-shaped, flat-topped, or spike-shaped clusters, and have a somewhat disagreeable odor. The individual flowers are less than ¼″ (6.3 mm) across.
Fruits: Berries go from green to red to blue-purple to almost black in color; they are about ¼″ (6.3 mm) around.
Habitats: Floodplain forests, dry wooded slopes, mixed deciduous forests, talus slopes, rock outcrops, wooded ravines.
See this comparison table showing viburnums that are presently in our database, or this nicely done Viburnum species guide.
Flowers. Photo from nps.gov. 
Online References:
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. acerifolium
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. densiflorum (Chapm.) McAtee
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. glabrescens Rehder
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. ovatum (Rehder) McAtee
Viburnum densiflorum Chapm.
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. densiflorum (Chapm.) McAtee
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. glabrescens Rehder
Viburnum acerifolium L. var. ovatum (Rehder) McAtee
Viburnum densiflorum Chapm.
8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 11 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
10/23/2016 · Georgetown, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm) 
5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) 
6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm) 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 11 × 10″ (27 × 24 cm) 
6/10/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) 
10/10/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (15 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain 
6/10/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9 cm) 
9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 8 × 7″ (21 × 17 cm) 
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 5″ (16 × 13 cm) 
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 3″ (8.8 × 7.9 cm) 
8/8/2010 · Jeff Smith Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 6″ (17 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/13/2010 · Burge’s Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
5/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
8/12/2023 · Highlands Trail via Pismire Bluffs Trail, Raymond Community Forest, Raymond, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm) 
10/27/2017 · Bemis Road · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
6/10/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3 × 2″ (8 × 5.2 cm) 
6/7/2014 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 7″ (14 × 18 cm) 
9/7/2010 · New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) 
10/23/2016 · Georgetown, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (21 × 14 cm) 
6/21/2025 · Hawk Mountain, Waterford, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (21 × 16 cm) 
5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 5″ (17 × 13 cm) 
9/22/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 7 × 5″ (18 × 13 cm) 
6/4/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Dipsacales | Includes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others |
| Family | Adoxaceae | Elders and viburnums |
| Genus | Viburnum | Latin for “a kind of shrub” |
| Species | acerifolium | Means “with leaves like a maple” |
Viburnum acerifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.