Blackhaw Viburnum

Viburnum prunifolium

Blackhaw viburnum is a shrub found in the eastern regions of North America, thriving at the edge of woods, in thickets, and on sunny glades [1]. It features a rounded crown with shiny green leaves that become a rich red and purple during the fall season. During the spring months, it is densely populated with clusters of small white flowers that adorn the branches, luring in bees and other pollinators. Later in the summer, the blooms are replaced with berries that eventually ripen from red to a dark blue-black color, providing nourishment for birds and other wildlife.

Native Americans and early settlers utilized blackhaw for its properties in treating various women’s health issues and as a muscle relaxant [2]. The inner bark was traditionally boiled and used as a tea or tincture to alleviate menstrual cramps, soothe uterine spasms, and during childbirth [3]. It also found use in reducing nerve pain and muscle tension. Herbalists have long appreciated blackhaw for its consistent, gentle, and direct actions on smooth muscle and the nervous system.

Current scientific research has identified a number of compounds in blackhaw that help explain its traditional uses, such as coumarins, salicosides, and viburnin [4][5]. Although it is not used as frequently in herbalism today, it is still one of the classic uterine tonics of North America, and a prime example of a plant that has thrived in the region for centuries.

In the landscape, the blackhaw viburnum continues to be a plant of great benefit to both humans and the natural world. Its early spring flowers provide nectar to pollinators, and its fall fruit supports migrating birds [6]. It is a plant of equilibrium – hardy, long-lasting, and bountiful.

[1] North Carolina State University Extension. “Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw).” “A large deciduous shrub to small tree native to eastern North America. Found along woodland edges, thickets, and streambanks. Showy white spring flowers attract pollinators; fruits turn blue-black and are eaten by birds.” https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/viburnum-prunifolium/

[2] FairWild Foundation. “Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium).” “Black haw has a long history of use as a uterine tonic, traditionally used by Native American and early European herbalists to relieve menstrual cramps, ease labour, and prevent miscarriage.” https://www.fairwild.org/ingredients/blackhaw

[3] WebMD. “Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) – Uses, Side Effects, and More.” “People use black haw for menstrual cramps, asthma, diarrhea, labor pain, and other conditions. The bark has been used to relax uterine and other smooth muscles.” https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-892/black-haw

[4] U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases – Viburnum prunifolium.” Lists chemical constituents including scopoletin (a coumarin) and salicin (a salicoside), among others. https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/plant-viburnum-prunifolium

[5] Felter, Harvey W., and John U. Lloyd. King’s American Dispensatory. 1898. “The active principles include viburnin, a bitter resinous compound, along with tannin, valerianic acid, and coumarins.” https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/felter/viburnum-prun.html

[6] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. “Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum).” “Flowers attract bees and butterflies; fruit eaten by songbirds and other wildlife.” https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIPR