Oval-leaf viburnum is a shrub with numerous erect branches from 1-3 meters high. The herbage of the petioles is covered with spreading coarse hairs and often with short raised glands. The leaves are palmately veined from the base with 3-5 main veins. The margins are coarsely and bluntly toothed but not lobed . Individual leaves range from 3-8 cm long and are about equally wide. The leaves vary from elliptic to subrotund and are sometimes subdordate at the base. The upper leaf surface is a shiny dark green (As viewed above.) while the ventral surface of the leaf is covered with short stiff or coarse hairs.
The inflorescence is a terminal cluster of small white flowers with the inflorescence measuring from 2.5-5 cm across. Individual flowers are five-lobed and measure 5-9 mm across with the stamens exserted from the mouth of the flower. The fruits are ellipsoid in shape, red in color and measure from 1-1.6 cm long. Each fruit contains a large, flattened stone.
Oval-leaf viburnum may be found in open woods, thickets and bottomlands.
Oval-leaf viburnum may be found from southern Washington south to northern California. It is found west of the Cascade summit.
In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 100'-2500' from east of Lewis and Clark State Park (Oregon) to west of Hood River, OR.
