If you’re wondering how to tell snowball bushes apart, take a look at these characteristics:
- Snowball hydrangea shrubs grow 4 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m.) tall, while the viburnums grow 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 m.) tall. ...
- A snowball viburnum bush won’t tolerate a climate colder than U.S. ...
- The hydrangeas have a much longer bloom period than the viburnums, with blossoms remaining on the shrub for as long as two months. ...
How to tell a snowball bush from a hydrangea?
If you’re wondering how to tell snowball bushes apart, take a look at these characteristics: Snowball hydrangea shrubs grow 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m.) tall, while the viburnums grow 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 m.) tall. If you’re looking at a shrub that is well over 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall, it is a viburnum.
What is the difference between Snowball viburnum and Hydrangea?
Snowball Viburnum vs. Hydrangea. A snowball viburnum bush won’t tolerate a climate colder than U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6. Snowball bushes growing in colder climates are probably hydrangeas. The hydrangeas have a much longer bloom period than the viburnums, with blossoms remaining on the shrub for as long as two months.
Where do Snowball hydrangeas grow in the US?
Snowball bush, also called Japanese snowball bush, is a native of China and Japan and grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. Snowball hydrangea, also called smooth hydrangea, is native to the Eastern United States and grows in USDA zones 3 through 9.
Are there any plants that look like snowball bushes?
However, there are a few species with splashy, mottled leaves. Hydrangea is also very similar to the snowball bush in appearance. The word Hydrangea is a Greek word, meaning “water vessel”. Its old name, Hortense, is a French word given in honor of a French astronomer, Nicole-Reine Hortense Lepaute.
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Are hydrangeas called snowball bushes?
Snowball bush is a common name for several ornamental plants which produce large clusters of white flowers and may refer to: Species of Hydrangea, which tend to flower in the summer: Hydrangea arborescens.
Is the Snowball Bush the same as a Hydrangea?
Although they look similar, snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum) and the snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) are actually two different plants. The two are both deciduous shrubs with similar characteristics and some distinctions.
What is the proper name for a snowball bush?
Viburnum OpulusSnowball Bush (Viburnum Opulus)
What kind of Hydrangea is snowball?
Hydrangea arborescensSmooth/ Snowball: (Hydrangea arborescens) Also known as "Wild" Hydrangeas, these shrubs are native to the eastern US - and while their color cannot be altered by changing soil pH, their blooms tend to turn a pale green as fall approaches....Hydrangea Types.SKUAM013942Soil MoistureAverage, Moist / Wet, Well Draining20 more rows
Should snowball bushes be cut back?
The Snowball Viburnum is a deciduous shrub, so it sheds its leaves in the fall and blooms form on old wood. If you're training your Snowball Viburnum Shrub to provide a lot of blooms, prune it back in spring after it has begun blooming to encourage more growth.
Where is the best place to plant a snowball bush?
Planting. Plant in full sun to part shade. While the Common Snowball Bush does well in some shade, about 6 hours of sun is ideal for best blooming. A well-draining and slightly acidic soil is ideal, but this hardy viburnum is adaptable to most soils.
What is the difference between viburnum and hydrangea?
The hydrangeas have a much longer bloom period than the viburnums, with blossoms remaining on the shrub for as long as two months. Hydrangeas bloom in spring and may rebloom in fall, while viburnums bloom in summer. Hydrangeas have smaller flower heads that seldom exceed 8 inches (20.5 cm.) in diameter.
Do you deadhead snowball bushes?
Expect viburnum snowball bushes to blossom in May. Heavy pruning should only be done at this time since you can easily destroy next year's flowers by removing old wood. Deadheading, or cutting off the flowers, won't harm viburnum. However, doing it isn't necessary and prevents the plant from growing berries.
Do snowball bushes spread?
Best planted in the fall or spring, snowball bushes appreciate well-drained soil. Choose a planting spot that affords the snowball plenty of room to grow. Snowballs like to spread their roots and some can grow as high as 15 feet.
What does a snowball hydrangea look like?
Chinese Snowball Viburnum: It blooms in spring, starting out with lime-green flowers that change to white as they develop. Each flower cluster rings in around six to eight inches in diameter, with the large-scale shrub reaching heights of 12 to 20 feet tall.
Do snowball hydrangeas need full sun?
Especially since it thrives in full or partial sun, stands up to heat and drought, and blooms for weeks at a time. And though Snowball Viburnums look similar to Hydrangeas...they're quite different! So, the Viburnum is easy to grow and elegant.
How fast do snowball hydrangeas grow?
1 to 2 feet per yearIn the southern end of its hardiness range, Chinese snowball is considered semi-evergreen, but for most gardeners, it is a fully deciduous shrub that loses its leaves in winter. Chinese snowball viburnum has a medium growth rate; 1 to 2 feet per year is typical.
What is the difference between viburnum and hydrangea?
The hydrangeas have a much longer bloom period than the viburnums, with blossoms remaining on the shrub for as long as two months. Hydrangeas bloom in spring and may rebloom in fall, while viburnums bloom in summer. Hydrangeas have smaller flower heads that seldom exceed 8 inches (20.5 cm.) in diameter.
What flower is similar to hydrangea?
Red Flower Clusters Like Hydrangeas In summer, crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) sports huge, showy clusters in red, white and various shades of pink and purple, the same shades as hydrangeas.
How do you take care of a snowball hydrangea?
It's especially important to keep your newly planted snowball hydrangea well watered through its first year while it gets established. This shrub blooms best with morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled shade all day. The more morning sun it gets, the better it blooms.
How tall does a snowball Bush get?
Viburnum opulus 'Sterile'Botanical Pronunciationvy-BER-num OP-ew-lusAverage Size at MaturityModerate growing; reaches 12 ft. tall, 10 ft. wide, or larger with age.Bloom TimeLate Spring to Early Summer15 more rows
How tall do snowball hydrangeas get?
Snowball hydrangea shrubs grow 4 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m.) tall, while the viburnums grow 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 m.) tall. If you’re looking at a shrub that is well over 6 feet (2 m.) tall, it is a viburnum. A snowball viburnum bush won’t tolerate a climate colder than U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6.
What is the difference between a snowball viburnum and a hydrangea?
Snowball Viburnum vs. Hydrangea. The old-fashioned snowball bush ( Hydrangea arborescens ), also called Anabelle hydrangea, produces large clusters of flowers that start out pale green and turn white as they mature. The Chinese snowball viburnum bush ( Viburnum macrocephalum) is similar in appearance and also produces flowers ...
How long do hydrangeas bloom?
The hydrangeas have a much longer bloom period than the viburnums, with blossoms remaining on the shrub for as long as two months. Hydrangeas bloom in spring and may rebloom in fall, while viburnums bloom in summer. Hydrangeas have smaller flower heads that seldom exceed 8 inches (20.5 cm.) in diameter. Viburnum flower heads are 8 ...
Is the Chinese snowball viburnum related to the Chinese snowball viburnum?
The Chinese snowball viburnum bush ( Viburnum macrocephalum) is similar in appearance and also produces flowers that start pale green and age to white even though the two plants aren’t related.
Do hydrangeas like light shade?
These two shrubs have similar requirements: they like light shade and moist but well-drained soil. Viburnum can tolerate drought in a pinch, but hydrangea is insistent about its moisture.
About the Blooms
Common snowball bush bears profuse, 3-inch-wide flower clusters in mid- to late spring. The sterile flowers start apple-green in color, open to bright white and then age with a pink tinge. Smooth hydrangea offers its blooms right on the heels of snowball bush.
Features for Comparison
Because snowball bush bears sterile blossoms, the showy fall fruit common to many viburnums is absent in this plant, but its brilliant fall foliage compensates. The maplelike leaves of snowball bush shine in the autumn sunlight. Glimmering shades of red, yellow and bronze cover the shrub's 10- to 12-foot height and 12- to 14-foot width.
Cultural Considerations
Both snowball bush and smooth hydrangea grow well in moist, well-drained soil and don't require fertilizer in normal, healthy gardens. Snowball bush does best with slightly acidic soil while smooth hydrangea tolerates acidic to alkaline pH levels. Full sun is a requisite for abundant snowball blooms -- and for its brilliant fall color.
Nature and Pruning
Native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, snowball bush is hardy from USDA zones 3 through 8. Prune it with restraint -- or not at all. Pruned too heavily, snowball bush takes years to rebound. Limit pruning to immediately after the shrub finishes flowering. Snowball bush blooms on old wood from buds set the previous year.
How big do hydrangeas get?
Just one or two bushes (depending on yard size) is all you’ll need to make a statement. Annabelle Hydrangea: It will reach 4 feet in both height and width, with huge, white flowering clusters that have been known to hit an expansive 10 inches in diameter.
How big do Chinese snowballs get?
Chinese snowball is one of spring's showiest shrubs. White flower clusters 6 to 8 inches across festoon its branches in late spring. The plant gets big—12 to 20 feet tall and wide. Though it looks like a hydrangea, it's actually a viburnum.
How tall is a Chinese snowball viburnum?
Each flower cluster rings in around 6 to 8 inches in diameter, with the large-scale shrub reaching heights of 12 to 20 feet tall.
Can snowball viburnum grow in full sun?
Chinese Snowball Viburnum: This stunner will thri ve in full sun to partial shade, though warmer climates might require additional shade in the afternoon.
