About Guelder Rose or viburnum opulus

This plant is also referred to as King's Crown, High Cranberry, Red Elder, Water Elder and so on. The name Guelder comes from Gueldersland which is a Dutch province. This is where the tree was also first cultivated. It was introduced into Romania and England under the name of 'Gueldres Rose.' The berries that are produced by this plant have anti-scorbutic properties. An interesting fact about these berries is that once they dry, they turn black and are used for making ink. This is an ornamental plant mostly for its berries and lovely flowers. They do very well on moist soils, although they also tolerate other types of soils.
  Did you know that the leaves, bark and even the berries are all poisonous to man? However, the berries become edible when cooked. Another interesting fact about this plant is that the bark is used in herbal medicine as a nerve sedative and even as an anti-spasmodic in asthma. It can also be used for all kinds of spasms and in heart diseases or rheumatism, it does wonders. You can find the bark in thin strips or in quills and it can be recognized by its characteristic odour and astringent taste. The Guelder rose also has stimulant properties.