Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Downy Arrowwood
Viburnum rafinesquianum

Other common names: Arrowwood

Other scientific names: Viburnum rafinesqueanum

French names: Virone de Rafinesque

Family: Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae), (Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae))

Group: Arrowwoods

Distinctive features: Shrub; Leaves are prominently toothed and have stipules. Usually downy.

Similar species:
  •   Smooth Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum) - very similar, but occurs only in the very southern part of Ontario.


Flowers: Spring, Summer;  White;  5 parts (petals);  White, 5 petals, mid June (late spring).

Leaves: Opposite/Whorled, Simple, Toothed;  Opposite. Have stipules. Prominently toothed.

Fruit/Seeds: Black fruit in late summer.

Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas;  Dry places.

Books: Shrubs of Ontario: 467    Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 302   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common.

Notes: Easily confused with Smooth Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum), which is not very common and occurs mostly in extreme southern Ontario.

Photographs: 79 photographs available, of which 12 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Opposite leaves, prominently toothed.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

The opposite arrangement of the leaves is quite obvious.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Downy Arrowwood is distinguished from Smooth Arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum) by its stipules, shown here and in the next photo.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

A closeup view of the stipules.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Leaves in the late summer.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Downy Arrowwood shrub.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Upper surface of a leaf.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Underside of a leaf.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Closeup of the underside of a leaf, showing the downy aspect that characterizes this shrub, and is the second main distinguishing characteristic to tell it apart from Smooth Arrowwood.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Flower buds, in early June.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Flowers. White, 5-petalled, in mid-June.

Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

Fruit, in August.


Range map for Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)