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

These aphids overwinter as eggs laid on the branches of host viburnums. —Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025

This viburnum variety great for wildlife enthusiasts, with fragrant white blooms and showy berries that ripen from red to black in autumn. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025

The landscape is a gardeners’ dream with apple, plum, pear, cherry and nectarine trees, a goji berry patch, blueberry plants, an herb garden, fresh mint, specimens of viburnum, various holly shrubs, arborvitae, Alberta spruces and andromeda plants. —Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025

Choose Salt-Tolerant Plants Plants like viburnum, boxwood, red twig dogwood, and serviceberry react badly to salty soil. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2025

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