Viburnum rigidum

This is a small, evergreen tree, sometimes considered a shrub, which can be up to 7 m tall. It has a short, thick trunk that soon branches into a wide, parasol-shaped crown with thin, upright, flexible branches (new ones are somewhat tomentose). The bark is reddish brown with silvery shades, and cracked or scaly. This species is clearly distinguished by its leaves, which are simple, opposite, relatively large (10-20 cm in length and 5-8 cm in width), ovate- lanceolate, with a pointed tip and an entire margin, although sometimes the blade may be slightly wavy. They are covered by fine hairs on both sides but this makes them rough to the touch. The blossom is spectacular. The pink buds and small white flowers are hermaphroditic and showy as they appear in large, dense clusters (of 10-15 cm of diameter) in umbel form, i.e., with all the flowers at the same level; together they are reminiscent of a snow ball, especially because of their colour. The fruits are small, fleshy, globose drupes that are a little elongated and less than 1 cm in length. When they ripen, in autumn, they become an almost metallic blue-purple-black colour. Each contains a single seed.