Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Nannyberry is auditioning as a specialist in the Landscaping for Wildlife project I am helping with.

Area "F" is swamp/marsh

There is a significant amount of "swamp" and marsh that would benefit from patches of cover and winter forage for birds.

It is not very photogenic this time of year.  This specimen gives you a sense of how it forms a thicket.

The seed is slightly larger than a watermelon seed and nearly the same shape.  It tasted a bit like a date.  Nothing special but not obnoxious, either.

Each spear-shaped terminal bud will become a sloppy "snowball" in early June.  Literature suggests that more berries will be produced if another clone is nearby to provide pollination.

Close-up of the terminal bud.  As always, you can click on the picture to make it larger.

The plant suckers profusely from the shallow roots.  It can grow up to the edge of standing water.  The branches are smooth and not too difficult to push through.

Many of the bushes are still retaining fruit, even in mid-January (all pictures taken January 22, 2017)

This species is much easier to find when in flower.  Once you are keyed in, you will see them everywhere. This image is from gobotany.

Unfortunately, these flowers do not smell very good.  I wonder if it can hybridize with V. carlesii? Image from Prairiehaven.

Bonus pictures, a local hawthorn

Not very many thorns.

It tasted like an over-ripe Golden Delicious apple.