Virginia Tech Dendrology

jet blackbead Rosaceae Rhodotypos scandens (Thunb.) Makino symbol: RHSC3
Leaf: Opposite, simple, ovate to cordate in shape, 3 to 4 inches long, 3-lobed, doubly serrate, palmately veined with veins sunken on upper surface giving the leaf a slightly wrinkled look, green above and paler below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; attractive, white, 4-petals, 2 inches across, appearing singly at the branch tips with the leaves.
Fruit: Bead-like drupes in clusters of 1 to 4, each 1/4 inch in diameter, rounded, red turning purple-black when ripe; maturing in fall and persisting.
Twig: Slender, velvety-gray; buds ovoid, stalked with 4 dark purple scales.
Bark: Smooth, warty, grayish brown.
Form: An upright suckering shrub that grows to 6 feet tall.
Looks like: doublefile viburnum

Additional Range Information: Rhodotypos scandens is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information