Basic Facts of the Snowball
- They are known botanically as the Viburnum opulus, but they have several common names – they have been referred to as Snowball bush, the European viburnum snowball bush, the European ...
- They can grow to a height of twelve feet.
- The Snowball bush is found in Europe, Northern Africa or in Central Asia.
- Snowball bushes bloom in spring.
Is there a difference between snowball bush and Japanese snowball bush?
The most common is the European snowball bush, which is also called Roseum, according to DIY Network. There are also other types, such as the Japanese snowball bush, Chinese snowball bush, and the fragrant snowball bush. How fast does a snowball bush grow?
Does snowball bush die back in winter?
12 rows · Jan 26, 2017 · Cayuga viburnum is a cross between V. carlesii (Korean spice viburnum) and V. x carlcephalum.It has ...
Is snowball bush the same as Viburnum?
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; Hydrangea paniculata; Species of Viburnum, which tend to flower in the spring: Viburnum macrocephalum (Chinese snowball bush)
How big does a snowball bush get?
Apr 10, 2020 · 2. Dig a hole that is shallow and broad. The hole should be about three times the diameter of the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball. 3. Carefully remove the snowball bush from its container and, using your hands, gently loosen any outside roots from the sides and bottom. Take care not to break or damage the roots of the bush.

Are snowball bushes and hydrangeas the same thing?
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 an old fashioned snowball bush?
A densely branched flowering shrub, this Viburnum is an excellent choice for a flowering privacy hedge. Plant in full sun with average soil and water. The Old Fashioned Snowball Shrub grows 8 to 10 feet tall, but can be pruned for small yards.
Should I cut back Snowball bush?
0:204:10Prune a Snowball Bush - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn which variety you have make slight adjustments to your pruning routine in order to help yourMoreOn which variety you have make slight adjustments to your pruning routine in order to help your plant thrive pruning viburnum snowball bushes prune the bush after the flowers bloom in spring. Expect
Are there miniature snowball bushes?
Newport Viburnum - Miniature Snowball Bush Shipped 1 to 2 Feet Tall by DAS Farms (No California)
Where do you plant snowball viburnum?
Where to Plant Your Snowball Bush. Snowball Bushes flourish when given six to eight hours of full sun outdoors. These bushes need moist, humus-rich, moderately alkaline soil that drains well, so you may need to amend the soil before planting.Apr 10, 2020
What colors do snowball bushes come in?
Its flower balls can be a deep rich blue, but they can also be pink or some shade in between. The color depends upon how much aluminum in the soil the plant can use.
Do snowballs like sun or shade?
How to Grow and Care for Snowball Bush ViburnumCommon NameSnowball bush viburnum, fragrant snowball, European cranberrybushSun ExposureFull sun, partial shadeSoil TypeAverage, well-drainedSoil pHModerately acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5 to 8.0)Bloom TimeSpring7 more rows•Dec 30, 2021
Where do snowball bushes grow best?
full sunPlanting. 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.
Where Does This Shrub Grow?
Gardeners in planting zones 3 to 8 can grow snowball bush. The best location for the shrub will be one in full sun (in the North) and with a well-d...
How to Care For Snowball Bushes
Water snowball bush enough to keep its soil evenly moist, as it does not like dry ground. Conserve soil moisture (and suppress weeds, to boot) by a...
What Other Shrubs Share This Common Name?
People apparently find the name of "snowball bush" appealing, because several other plants have commandeered it as their own common name, including...
Landscaping Uses For Snowball Bushes
Some uses for snowball bushes in the yard are as: 1. Hedge plants 2. Specimen plants for spring and/or fall
What is a snowball bush?
The Snowball Bush is easy to care for and maintain and makes a great focal point for the center of a large yard or for the corner of a foundation planting. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers and berries.
How big does a snowball bush grow?
Shorter dwarf varieties grow at a slower pace. When fully mature, the Snowball Bush will grow large, up to 12 tall and 15 feet wide.
When do snowball bushes bloom?
The Snowball's flowers emerge a striking lime-green in late spring and gradually turn to snowy-white in mid-May, retaining their color for several weeks at a time.
Is a snowball bush 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. Snowball bush, also called Japanese snowball bush, is a native of China and Japan and grows in USDA plant hardiness ...
Can hydrangeas grow in full sun?
Snowball bush grows in full sun to partial shade, and hydrangea grows best in partial shade though it can grow in full sun with more regular watering. A tolerance for drought with the snowball bush and an intolerance of drought, with wilting leaves, for the hyrdrangea. Lose of leaves during winter with both plants.
How big is a snowball bush?
Growing 8 to 15 feet tall and 10 to 18 feet wide, snowball bush is a large, multistemmed shrub. It has deeply veined leaves, which are the source of its Latin species name of plicatum, and it has white, 2- to 3-inch snowball-like flowers that bloom in April and May.
Do hydrangeas die in winter?
Lose of leaves during winter with both plants. But the hydrangea may also die back to the ground in frigid winters. Pruning for snowball bushes occurs after the plant finishes flowering as needed to shape the bush or reduce its size.
What color are snowball flowers?
Snowball flowers are green, then turn white and often fade into a rosy pink. Snowball Bush Viburnum. Prolific, easy to maintain snowball bush viburnum with white flower balls growing in a garden. Photo by: Shutterstock/Ninii. Shutterstock/Ninii. Sun: Full sun to part shade.
When do snowball bush flowers bloom?
European snowball bush blooms in spring opening flower clusters that are 3 inches across. The flowers start apple green and age to white. This is one of the oldest recorded viburnums, dating to the 16th Century, when it was called "sambucus rose.".
What is the largest snowball bush?
Chinese snowball bush ( Viburnum macrocephalum) opens some of the largest snowball blooms, with flower heads measuring up to 8 inches across. The flowers on Viburnum macrocephalum shift from pale green, to cream, to white. Within one snowball flower, individual blossoms can show different shades at the same time, giving blooms a tricolor effect.
When do viburnum snowballs bloom?
This viburnum snowball bush opens white flowers in mid-spring. The blossoms are 2 to 3 inches across and fade from white to pink as they age. Fall leaf color features shades of burgundy and purplish red.
What is the name of the flower that opens in late spring?
Viburnum carlcephalum. Viburnum carlcephalum adds a sweet perfume to beautiful snowball bush flowers. It's known as fragrant snowball bush and opens its blossoms toward late spring. The blooms start as pink buds that unfurl to reveal blush pink white flowers.
When was the snowball bush introduced?
Introduced in the late 1800s, grand-flowering snowball bush ( Viburnum plicatum 'Grandiflorum') can be harder to find, but it's worth the search. This snowball bush opens flowers to 3 inches across that are white flushed with tints of pink or apricot.
What is a Japanese snowball viburnum?
Botanically, Japanese snowball viburnum is known as Viburnum plicatum. The species name for Japanese snowball viburnum, "plicatum," means pleated or folded, which describes the leaves on this beauty. The leaves are strongly veined and have an almost ruffled appearance.
What is the difference between a snowball bush and a Chinese snowball bush?
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 that start pale green and age to white even though the two plants aren’t related. If you’re wondering how to tell snowball bushes apart, take a look at these characteristics:
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 ...
Do hydrangeas need to be pruned in the winter?
The big difference is in the way the two shrubs are pruned. Cut hydrangeas back hard in late winter. This encourages them to come back lush and leafy in spring. Viburnums, on the other hand, need pruning right after the flowers fade.
What is a snowball viburnum?
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. Snowball bushes growing in colder climates are probably hydrangeas.
How big are hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas have smaller flower heads that seldom exceed 8 inches (20.5 cm.) in diameter. Viburnum flower heads are 8 to 12 inches (20.5 to 30.5 cm.) across. These two shrubs have similar requirements: they like light shade and moist but well-drained soil.
What is snowball bush?
There is some confusion, as there are a few other plants, including other members of the genus Viburnum, also referred to as "snowball bush". The shrub is also cultivated as a component of hedgerows, cover plantings, and as part of other naturalistic plantings in its native regions.
How many species are there in the Guelder rose?
The guelder rose is a member of the Viburnum genus which contains 160-170 species. It is classified in the subsection Opulus which usually contains 5 species. Phylogenetic anlyses suggest the following relationship between those species:
Where is Viburnum opulus grown?
Viburnum opulus berries in Novosibirsk, Siberian Russia. Viburnum opulus is grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers and berries, growing best on moist, moderately alkaline soils, though tolerating most soil types well.
What is the Ukrainian anthem?
The song Chervona Kalyna was the anthem of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, and a berry cluster is today an insignia of the Ukrainian Army. Viburnum opulus ( kalina) is also one of the national symbols of Russia.
How tall is Viburnum opulus?
Flowers (left) and fruit. Viburnum opulus is a deciduous shrub growing to 4–5 m (13–16 ft) tall. The leaves are opposite, three-lobed, 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and broad, with a rounded base and coarsely serrated margins; they are superficially similar to the leaves of some maples, most easily distinguished by their somewhat wrinkled surface ...
What is cramp bark?
The term cramp bark is related to the properties of the bark's ability to reduce smooth muscle tightness. It is called cramp bark as relieving this type of muscle tightness is most often associated with relieving women's menstrual (period) cramps.
What does the red fruit symbolize?
The bitter side of the red fruit also symbolizes love separation in Russian folk culture.
How to grow a sage bush?
Cut older branches back to the growth nodes. Check the branches for thick spots where new buds form. Trim thick, woody branches right above this point. Doing this encourages the plant to grow new branches, which can be helpful if your bush looks a little thin or ragged.
When do snowball bushes bloom?
What many people don’t realize is that several different plants are called snowball bushes. Viburnum bushes bloom in the spring, while hydrangea bushes bloom in the fall. Depending on which variety you have, make slight adjustments to your pruning routine in order to help your plant thrive. Steps.
Who is Lauren Kurtz?
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department.
