Rusty Blackhaw: Excellent Deer Browse

Deer Food: Rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Descritption: Rusty blackhaw grows as a shrub or small tree with irregular branches, a short trunk and a spreading, irregular crown. It occurs in forest understory and in open areas on moist or dry soil. The leaves have short, rusty, hairy leafstalks and are rusty-hairy beneath, especially along the veins, turning red in the fall, and used as browse forage by white-tailed deer.

The bark is rough, forming rectangular or square plates. The fruit is bluish-black when mature and is eaten by some birds and mammals. It is also edible, the pulp having a sweet, raisin-like taste.

Rusty blackhaw Photos: