viburnum

noun

vi·​bur·​num vī-ˈbər-nəm 

: any of a genus (Viburnum of the family Adoxaceae) of widely distributed shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and white or sometimes pink cymose flowers

Examples of viburnum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trees and shrubs that bear fruit persisting into winter, such as hollies, many viburnums, hawthorns, staghorn sumac, and wax myrtle, provide natural food sources for birds. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024

Many of these birds will feast on the berries of hollies, dogwoods, spicebush, arrowwood viburnums, and magnolias.3 Was this page helpful? —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

Phillips suggests including fruiting shrubs to feed birds, from choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) to native viburnums. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2024

Fertilizer Chinese snowball viburnum does well in soils with average fertility. —Rebecca Bull Reed, Southern Living, 10 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, a viburnum

First Known Use

circa 1731, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

viburnum

noun

vi·​bur·​num vī-ˈbər-nəm 

: any of a genus of widely distributed shrubs or small trees that are related to the honeysuckles and have white or sometimes pink flowers in broad clusters

Medical Definition

viburnum

noun

vi·​bur·​num vī-ˈbər-nəm 

1

capitalized : a large genus of widely distributed shrubs or trees of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) including several species whose dried bark has been used in folk medicine

2

: any plant of the genus Viburnum