The classic Chinese snowball bush has graced Southern gardens for generations.
Statuesque in scale, one shrub is all you oughta make a statement.
Also called Chinese snowball bush, this shrub is laden withhydrangea-like blooms.
Credit:Viktoriia Kuzmenka / Getty Images
Give it ample room and plant just one or two in a suburban-sized yard in the spring or fall.
It will grow pretty quickly at up to 2 feet a year.
The flowers are the draw here.
These flowers start out lime green and then open to pristine white.
Because the blooms are sterile, this viburnum does not produce fruit.
And while many viburnums are fragrant, Chinese snowball isn’ta bonus for those with sensitive noses.
For a dramatic arrangement, group several long branches in a sturdy glass vase.
Soil
Chinese snowball viburnum prefers well-drained, moderately moist, loamy,acidic soil.
Water
Viburnum prefers moderately moist soil, but not constantly wet or soggy soil.
This plant can handle some dryness once established but is not drought-tolerant.
Water regularly until established andwater deeplyonce a week during hot, dry periods.
Mulch around the base of the plant to help preserve moisture.
This shrub is not reliably hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6A, where winter temperatures dip below 0.
Fertilizer
Chinese snowball viburnum does well in soils with average fertility.
Add organic matter if you are planting in a lean soil.
Fertilize in spring with a slow-release,granular fertilizer.
The wild form of this plant isV.
macrocephalumvar.keteleeri,and it has lacecap flowers that can produce berries.
Pruning
Blooms form on the previous year’s growth, sotiming pruningproperly is key to retaining flowers.
The best time to pot a Chinese snowball viburnum is in spring before any new growth emerges.
Add a thick layer of mulch to help moderate soil temperature.
If you oughta spray with a fungicide, avoid any products with sulfur, which is toxic to viburnums.
If the infestation becomes problematic, use an insecticidal soap.
This invasive import from Europe has been found in the mid-Atlantic and will skeletonize and strip leaves.
Prune and dispose of egg-covered stems whenever you find them.
The flower buds are produced on the previous year’s wood.
Make certain to prune the plant just after flowering to avoid removing the next year’s blooms.
Too much shade could prevent or reduce blooming.
Consider increasing sun exposure by pruning surrounding plants if your shrub is in ashady spot.
Keep an eye out for these problems and learn how to fix them.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellowing, wilting leaves indicate overwatering.
This can also cause root rot.
While this shrub likes moist soil, it does not like soggy soil.
confirm the soil is well-draining and regularly water the plant, especially during hot, dry weather.
A layer of mulch around the base of the plant will help preserve moisture.
Too much shade can cause the plant to stretch and reach for sunlight and reduce blooms.
Snowball bush is slightly more compact and has smaller flower heads.
Another species, European snowball viburnum (V. opulus’Roseum'), has similar flowers but maple-shaped leaves.
No, Chinese snowball is not considered invasive, as the flowers are sterile and do not produce fruit.
Shrubs can produce suckers and slowly spread into a thicket, but they are easily pruned to prevent this.
The wild variety,V.
macrocephalumvar.keteleeri, can fruit but has noticeably different lacecap flowers.
Chinese snowball viburnum is a long-lived shrub that can survive for 40 years or longer in the garden.
