Guelder Rose / Water Elder / European Cranberrybush - Viburnum opulus

Habitat

• native to Europe, northern Africa and northern Asia

Habit and Form

• a deciduous shrub

• multistemmed

• rounded shape

• upright-spreading to irregular and arching branching

• typically branched to the ground

• dense and compact

• 8' to 10' tall or even taller

• 10' to 15' spread

Summer Foliage

• opposite, simple leaves

• leaves with 3 primary lobes ("maple-shaped")

• entire leaf margin is irregularly and coarsely toothed

• leaves are 2" to 4" long and wide

• dark green color

• leaf surface is glabrous

Flowers

• small white flowers held in flat clusters

• less showy fertile inner flowers are surrounded by a ring of showier sterile flowers

• flower clusters are 2" to 3.5" across

• bloom time is late May to early June

Fruit

• bright red berries

• held in pendulous clusters

• individual fruits are 0.4" in diameter

• effective from late summer through mid-autumn

• by winter the fruits shrivel and look like dried red raisins

Bark

• not an important ornamental feature

Healing effects:

Contains:

Pectine, sugar, apple-acid, iron

Refreshing, good against enteritis, urinary problems, diarrhoea.

The cranberrybush is an effective antispasmodic, used in case of painful menstruation.

The bark of the cranberrybush is used for treatment of the painful menstruation, and also, on the basis of experiences, but not decisively it has a good impact on the uterus.

It is one of the most favoured virtuous plants to treat menstrual cramps. It is the most effective plant against the kind of cramps which are followed by feeling of sickness, pitching, sweating, and cold shivers.

Its brew is made from two teaspoons of cranberrybush’s bark to 2,5 deciliters of water, boiled, then for 10-15 minutes further cooked in slow oven.

This tea can be consumed 3 times a day, and the tincture of the plant can be used 3 times a day with an amount 4-8 millimetres.

Sponsors:

Ministry of National Resources

University of Szeged

KEFAG Zrt.

Future of Europe Association