Shadbush is among the first woody plants to bloom in eastern North America, its white flowers appearing in April just as shad fish run upriver—hence the name. It grows in moist thickets and forest edges from Newfoundland to the Carolinas. Its purple-red berries are eagerly consumed by more than 35 species of birds and many mammals.
Best time to see a Shadbush
The best time to see a Shadbush is April–June, when about 69% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 9,823 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Shadbush? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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