わが国の本州、中部地方以北から北海道、それに千島列島やサハリン、朝鮮半島、中国に分布しています。山地の林内に生え、高さは6メートルほどになります。葉は広卵形で3中裂し、対生します。5月から7月ごろ、枝先に散房花序をだし、中心部に両性花、周囲に白い装飾花を咲かせます。装飾花はふつう5深裂して平開します。果実は核果で、秋に赤く熟します。中国語では「鶏樹条(ji shu tiao)」と呼ばれます。
スイカズラ科ガマズミ属の落葉低木で、学名は Viburnum opulus var. calvescens。英名は Guelder rose。
The Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus var. calvescens) belongs to Caprifoliaceae (the Honeysuckle family). It is a small deciduous tree that is distributed northward from Chubu district of Hoshu to Hokkaido of Japan, as well as the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. This tree grows in montane woodlands and can reach about 6 m in height. The leaves are broad ovate, trilobate and opposite. The corymbs are borne on the terminal branches and bloom white flowers. The bisexual flowers are at center and the neuter flowers are at around the periphery. The neuter flowers are usually five lobate and spread out. The fruits are drupes and ripen red in fall. It is called "鶏樹条" (ji shu tiao) in Chinese.