Arrowwood Viburnum is alued for its clusters of white spring flowers, blue-black fruits and attractive fall colour. Its common name comes from the traditional use of its straight young stems for making arrow shafts. The name “Arrowwood” has a practical origin. Indigenous peoples use the straight, strong shoots of this shrub for making arrows and other implements.

Arrowwood's flowers are arranged in flat-topped clusters called cymes, creating a showy display in late spring. After flowering, the shrub produces clusters of blue to blue-black drupes. These can remain attractive into fall and are eaten by birds and other wildlife. Don't plant it too close to a walkway or small foundation bed. It may look modest when young but can become a broad, dense shrub as it matures. If your goal is abundant berries, plant more than one genetically distinct Arrowwood Viburnum where possible.