Viburnum dilatatum (linden viburnum, "Gamazumi")

Japanese name: ガマズミ （莢蒾）
Scientific name: Viburnum dilatatum

[Overview]
A deciduous shrub 2–5 m tall, growing in bright woods and woodland edges in hills and mountains.
The whole plant is covered with many hairs.
Young branches are densely hairy.
The leaves are simple and opposite, 5–14 cm long and 3–13 cm wide, and vary in shape from obovate to ovate to round.
Both surfaces of the leaves are hairy; there are 6–9 pairs of lateral veins that run almost straight, and the margin has irregular serrations.
On the underside of the leaf there are fine glandular dots, as well as 1–3 pairs of conspicuous glandular dots near the margin in the lower part.
The leaf stalk is long at 1–3 cm, and there are no stipules.
Flat corymbs 5–12 cm across are produced at the branch tips, and there is a pair of leaves at the base of the inflorescence.
The flowers are white, 5–8 mm across, and have a distinctive smell.
The corolla is 5-lobed, and the 5 stamens project far out.
The fruit is 6–8 mm long and ripens red; it is sweet and sour, and wild birds love to eat it.

[Uses]
The wood is said to be flexible yet tough and hard to break, and it seems to be used for tool handles.
The fruit is made into fruit liqueur.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by grafting.
It prefers a sunny or partially shaded, well-drained site.
Take care, because scale insects occur easily when ventilation is poor.

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