Viburnum acerifolium

Habitat: floodplain forests, dry wooded slopes, mixed deciduous forests, talus slopes, rock outcrops, wooded ravines

Wildlife value: It is a potential host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly.  Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, grouse, wild turkeys, and squirrels.  The twigs and leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer

Notes: The most shade-tolerant and shortest of the viburnums. Not very tolerant of salt or pollution. Suckering - spreads sideways to form a colony. Needs strongly acidic soil in woodland conditions. Tolerates heavy shade. In fall the foliage turns shades of red, pink, or purple for added interest. The species name refers to the leaves being similar in shape to maples.