; A snowball viburnum bush won’t tolerate a climate colder than U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6. White double flowers, multi-season blooms. Planting, pruning and caring for it will certainly lead to magnificent flowers shaped like perfect snowballs that stand out against the beautiful dark green foliage. I have several snowball bushes that have never bloomed. Therefore, to keep it neat, it is essential to do the pruning of the plant correctly. Blooms Each Year, Reliably Why Endless Summer® Hydrangeas? What time of the year do I use it? If your Snowball is already mature, you can grow more bushes using cuttings from a healthy plant. Some have a short shelf life and do not survive into another gardening era while others have staying power and remain commonplace centuries later. Tip. For the best results, use the same process for drying a snowball blossom that you would use to dry a hydrangea blossom. The Japanese snowball bush is larger than the Common version and generally grows from seven to twelve feet (213.4 to 365.8 cm) tall and wide. Snowball viburnum, also known as snowball bush, is a deciduous, multistemmed shrub named for its huge snowball-like flower clusters. I have a snowball bush that won't bloom. Take care not to break or damage the roots of the bush. We hope you are enjoying Gardenerdy! Both are called snowball bush by commoners. If you’re looking at a shrub that is well over 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall, it is a viburnum. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Shorter dwarf varieties grow at a slower pace. And we do, too! Snowball Bloom 'N Again® Azalea. I have a good sized snowball bush that just finished blooming, I was wondering if it will repeat bloom or that's it for the season. Most problems are issues of watering, sunlight, and soil quality. What type of roots can I expect to find? I like doing things the easy way and bushes provide us with that. Q. Season: To get the best results, you can plant them in spring or early winter. Climate: Snowball bushes grow in a temperate climate. They are ornamental plants, and can lend a beautiful background to your yard. On Japanese snowball viburnum, the blossom balls measure two to three inches across. Because they develop flower buds in the summer, snowball bushes (Viburnum opulus) should be pruned immediately after flowering. How Fast Do Snowball Bushes Grow? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Snowballs are upright, multi-stemmed shrubs. These cookies do not store any personal information. Always bear in mind that the plant is moisture-friendly. Its springtime blossoms burst from buds set the summer before. The only requirement is moist and well-drained soil. There are many similar bushes, but you can't go wrong with the stunning Common Snowball Viburnum. Snowballs are upright, multi-stemmed shrubs. 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. Many early-blooming varieties also have fragrant flowers. The Chinese Snowball is as tough as it is beautiful! Flowers bloom in spring. I have mulched it with oak leaves, as I heard that will make the flowers blue when it does bloom. What many people don't realize is that several different plants are called snowball bushes. On the other hand, if the branches have become too long and you're more concerned with shaping a mature bush, cut back one-third of the canes in fall to thin out the base. The architecture that the staged branches present is extremely rare in the plant world and make this a very distinctive plant. These are: These plants are excellent ornamental plants and a delight to watch at. It is frequently confused with the sun-loving Pee-Gee hydrangea, though fortunately they bloom at different times -- the true snowball bush in … I definitely have a trellis and a large rock there to protect it from wayward lawn mowers. Azalea x 'Hardy Gardenia' Option tool email icon; Plant 8 or 9 feet apart for a dense screen. Sometimes it's listed as Viburnum opulus 'Sterile,' which is commonly called Eastern snowball viburnum. For example, the Japanese snowball bush blooms in the middle of spring and change colors from white to pink, turning burgundy and red in the fall. Different types of Snowball Bushes require different types of care. wide. I did see some tiny black worms/caterpillars on the backs of the leaves. The Japanese snowball bush is larger than the Common version and generally grows from seven to twelve feet (213.4 to 365.8 cm) tall and wide. H. macrophylla, H. paniculata and V. macrocephalum snowball bushes respond to complete renewal -- cutting the shrub to the ground -- but may take more than one season to … This large shrub is the perfect focal plant for small yards instead of a tree. If you’re looking at a shrub that is well over 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall, it is a viburnum. Water: The water requirement of the plant is high. European snowball bush blooms in spring opening flower clusters that are 3 inches across. My problem is,,,my hydrangeas is making a great healthy bush with with very few blooms and regardless what I do it does not help the plant bloom, I have little or no results. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Japanese snowball trees flower heavily in spring. Choose a planting spot that affords the snowball plenty of room to grow. During winter, the plant can tolerate cold temperatures of up to about -30°C. Blooming early in the summer season, the incredibly beautiful, frost-proof Endless Summer® Hydrangea will give the warmth of summer to your garden with lovely blooms up until Thanksgiving. Statuesque in scale, one shrub is all you need to make a statement. i have 2 hydrangea and snowball bushes, you don't to cut them back. Victory Gardening in 2020: Spring is Not Cancelled, Green Pavement Creates Beautiful Environmental Solutions, Tips, Tricks & Reasons to Mulch Around Trees. Snowball bushes, also known as Viburnum opulus \"Roseum,\" are tall ornamental shrubs that produce vibrant white blooms resembling their wintery namesake. The best time to plant a Snowball Bush is either in the fall or spring, depending on the variety of the bush, its age, and your hardiness zone. Copyright © 2005-2020 BrighterBlooms.com | 2621 Old Nation Rd Fort Mill, SC 29715 | NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC, Snowball Bush Guide: Common Questions Answered. On top of its amazing flowering, the silhouette of viburnum plicatum is also appealing in itself. These snowball-like flowers are often confused with the plants of the genus Hydrangea. I was just wondering when to expect it to begin blooming. These bushes need moist, humus-rich, moderately alkaline soil that drains well, so you may need to amend the soil before planting. Shop for Viburnum Shrubs today, and make your landscape the envy of the neighborhood! Make sure they are planted in full sun or partial shade. We provide informative articles about gardening, lawn care and landscaping that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! It grows well at 20°C and above during the summers. Chinese snowball viburnum blooms earlier and has a shorter bloom time than the hydrangeas, though sometimes it will have some late summer blooms. Can I prune it first? Chinese snowball bush (Viburnum macrocephalum) is another classic, as is the grand-flowering snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum ‘Grandiflorum’). The pure white clusters appear in April and May, some reaching 4 inches (10 cm.) We seem to have different bushes in bloom each month, and this month is the butterfly bush. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers and berries. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. The specific bloom times for "snowball bushes"—a name that most often refers to viburnums—vary by species, ranging from late April to early June. The ones I have are about 4 years old and so far I haven’t had to trim them. The Snowball Bush or its scientific name, viburnum plicatum, is sometimes simply called Snowball Viburnum for short. AAnightowl, Dec 26, 2012 #1. I have mulched it with oak leaves, as I heard that will make the flowers blue when it does bloom. I have a snowball bush over 6 ft tall. There are many similar bushes, but you can't go wrong with this beauty. Easy-growing yet super elegant, the Japanese Snowball Bush is known for its full white blooms and vibrant green foliage that welcome spring. Join our community and get exclusive offers, care tips and more! 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. Snowball trees are known for their large, globular white blooms that emerge in early spring. When I was a young girl and started to notice foliage and actually care about what things were I dreamed of having a snowball bush at my very own house. How big are snowball bushes before they bloom ? Snowball bush viburnum has flowers that look much as its name suggests. Tips for Snowball Bush Care and Maintenance. Climate: Snowball bushes grow in a temperate climate. The only requirement is moist and well-drained soil. Hydrangeas are beautiful when they bloom in spring and summer. The origin of this plant may be traced back to Europe and Asia. Pruning vs. Deadheading for Hydrangeas Since we have mentioned pruning in this article more than a few times, we should dedicate a few sentences to it so you can have a better understanding of what it … Learn more about our Chinese Snowball Viburnums, or Snowball Bushes, and their stunning blooms! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Annabelles will bloom as usual if cut to the ground during winter. With Eastern snowball viburnum, flowers burst into their glory late spring to early summer and measure up to … Chinese snowball viburnum blooms on old wood and should be pruned soon after blooming, while Annabelle and PeeGee, which bloom on new wood, are best pruned in late winter or early spring. The Snowball Viburnum is a deciduous shrub, so it sheds its leaves in the fall and blooms form on old wood. Although it originated in Japan, the bush is widely cultivated in the southern portion of the United States. Or why the blooms of your plant are not at par with that of your neighbor? This easy-going plant is part of the large viburnum family. These blooms start out green and transition to pure white over several weeks. The soil can be acidic or alkaline. At maturity, Snowball Bushes can be very tall and wide (up to 20 feet in each direction for Viburnum macrocephalum), and their branches shoot out from the center. The plant is a woody shrub that grows up to 6 to 12 feet, and even higher at times. I want to move it next month. Leave a long, trailing piece of string hanging from the tie. The large light green blooms of the Japanese snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum) appear in late spring and slowly turn white. The plant is known to be available in three types, viz., Chinese snowball viburnum (Sterile), Japanese snowball viburnum (Popcorn), and European snowball viburnum―popularly known as European cranberry, water elder, and cramp bark. In fact, adding too much of fertilizers can result in undesirable decay of the plant. Selecting bushes this way, one or two for each month of the year, is so much easier to do than planing rows of flowers that need de-heading, etc. Viburnums bloom on the previous year's growth, so they should only be pruned, if needed, right after as they are finishing bloom, otherwise you will be cutting of developing buds without even realizing it. The Common Snowball Bush isn't your everyday shrub. Climate: Snowball bushes grow in a temperate climate. However they are 9. years old and have been pruned at least once a year. Spring blooming shrubs such as snowball all share one major flaw. Ideal for mass planting, this beautiful evergreen shrub adds color both spring and fall. Snowball Bushes should be planted in tracts that are at least three times as wide as they are tall. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. Pruning: The plant spreads wide. Whether you're transplanting a sapling, using cuttings, or planting a mature Snowball Bush, knowing the best times to plan helps you understand what to expect. Their colorful spring and summer evolution begins with green blooms before turning bright white and fading to pink as they wither. by RugbyHukr on May 10, 2006 03:19 AM Beautiful, colorful, and unique array of shrubs, trees, and plants, We grow and deliver the highest quality products directly to your door, Order online or over the phone with no waiting and no hassles. This can also be happening with a hydrangea, as many bloom on old wood as well. Before approaching the ideal process of growing and caring for a Snowball bush, it is necessary to understand the plant well, as there is a common misunderstanding about the plant. You'll have the look of summer, long after the season is over. The flowers start apple green and age to white. Spruce Up Your Yard With These Tree Landscaping Ideas. Tons of gorgeous, 6 to 8 inch flowers similar to hydrangea burst open in spring. What’s the Best Weed Killer for Bermuda Grass? Snowball belongs to the genus Viburnum. Try this hardy viburnum in a formal hedge or screen. The Snowball flowers begin with a green tinge, then turn snow-white, followed by a pink shade before withering. Bright white blooms look like cheerleader pom-poms. While there are over 150 varieties of viburnum, one of the most popular is known as the "snowball bush." However, sometimes they don’t bloom the way you want them to. On a regular basis some have a trellis and a large shrub that is well over 6 (. 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