Arrowwood

Viburnum dentatum

Pollinator Value

🔑 Keystone: Viburnum is a keystone genus supporting 103 lepidoptera species in the region. The genus provides critical larval food for diverse moth and butterfly taxa including clearwings (Hemaris spp.), silkmoths (Callosamia, Hyalophora, Automeris), and prominent moths. Drupes persist into winter, sustaining thrushes, grouse, and songbirds during resource-scarce months.
S13 103 lepidoptera; S57 4 bird species documented
🐛 Larval Host: Calledapteryx dryopterata, Agriopodes fallax, Hemaris thysbe, Hemaris diffinis, Pyrrharctia isabella, Xanthotype sospeta, Callosamia promethea, Paonias excaecatus, Schizura concinna, Automeris io, Hyalophora cecropia, Orgyia leucostigma, Schizura badia, Glyptocera consobrinella
S13+S15 14 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Blue-black drupes persist into late autumn and early winter, consumed by American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Ruffed Grouse, and White-eyed Vireo. Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, and Wild Turkey also documented feeding on Viburnum fruits. Small mammals including Eastern Chipmunk and White-footed Mouse feed on fruits and seeds.
S57 diet database; S10 bird and mammal associations

Proximity Score: 3a
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: S
CEC Eco-Regions: 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.4 – Ozark, Ouachita-Appalachian Forests, 8.4.1 – Ridge and Valley
Rarity Notes: Not listed under SARA. NatureServe global rank G5 (Secure). No subnational ranks available for Ontario or Quebec from NatureServe. USDA lists as native to L48. Range extends from New Brunswick south to Florida and west to Texas and Iowa.
S22 G5; S26 not SARA listed; S11 native L48
Migration: Disjunct
Ecological Context: A multi-stemmed shrub of moist woods, streambanks, and swamp edges, typically found in mesic to wet-mesic habitats. Occupies understory and edges in deciduous forests across eastern North America. In Michigan, found at shrubby edges of lake and pond shores, especially in somewhat boggy settings. Tolerant of a wide range of soils and light conditions, making it adaptable to disturbed edges and woodland borders.
S10 moist woods, streambanks; S7 shrubby edges, boggy settings; S4 stream banks, moist woods

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked with a pleasantly sweet flavour, but there is very little edible flesh surrounding a relatively large seed. Fruit up to 9.5 mm in diameter. Ojibwa used bark as an ingredient in kinnikinnick (smoking mixture).
S29 fruit edible, sweet; S28 Ojibwa smoke plant