| Scientific name: | Viburnum opulus L. | |
| Swedish name: | Olvon, skogsolvon, ugglerönn, ulvtry; snöbollsbuske | |
| German name: | Gewöhnlicher Schneeball | |
| Nederlandse naam: | Gelderse roos | |
| English name: | Guelder Rose, Water Elder, European Cranberrybush, Cramp Bark, Snowball Tree | |
| Family: | Caprifoliaceae, Honeysuckle family, Kaprifolväxter |
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| Life form: | Deciduous shrub | |
| Stems: | The bark on young twigs is smooth and gray to tan-brown while the bark on older stems is light gray-brown with irregular cracks. The branches and twigs are bare, winter buds are slender and covered with two bud scales. | |
| Leaves: | Opposite, simple, palmately 3-lobed, dark green, strongly to lightly toothed, 3 to 13 cm long, 4 to 12 cm wide, and hairy beneath | |
| Flowers: | Hermaphrodite, White, corymbs 4-11 cm diameter at the top of the stems; each corymb comprises a ring of outer sterile flowers 1.5-2 cm diameter with conspicuous petals, surrounding a center of small (5 mm), fertile flowers | |
| Flowering Period: | June, July | |
| Fruits: | Round red drupe 7-10 mm diameter, containing a single seed. | |
| Habitat: | Forests, groves |
Derivation of the botanical name: Viburnum,a classical Latin name for one species of this genus opulus, refers to latin opulus for Acer campestre, Field Maple; resembling the guelder-rose. 'Guelder Rose' supposedly first originated in the Dutch province of Gelderland.
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