Viburnum lantana Wayfaring-tree

A deciduous shrub with minutely hairy, toothed, oval leaves which are ribbed on the underside and borne opposite on the twigs. It produces umbels of creamy-white flowers in spring which have a sickly smell and give rise to clusters of red berries which eventually go black. The berries are eaten by frugiverous birds, particularly thrushes. Although native and widespread in much of southern Britain, particularly on base-rich soils, it is less common in the north and west of Britain as a native species. However it is frequently planted along roadsides and in industrial and retail parks. Although it is fairly common in parts of Mid and East Glamorgan, such as in the Vale of Glamorgan where it is frequently found in hedges on limestone, it is much less common in West Glamorgan and may be represented there mostly (if not always) by planted introductions or their decendents.

Native and neophyte