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shrub

Japanese Snowball Viburnum

Viburnum plicatum

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Japanese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) at Pesche's Garden Center

Japanese Snowball Viburnum flowers

Japanese Snowball Viburnum flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Japanese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) at Pesche's Garden Center

Japanese Snowball Viburnum in bloom

Japanese Snowball Viburnum in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Japanese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) at Pesche's Garden Center

Japanese Snowball Viburnum in fall

Japanese Snowball Viburnum in fall

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  12 feet

Spread:  12 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5a

Description:

A strikingly beautiful shrub with showy ball-shaped clusters of white flowers in spring, does not produce fruit, a large shrub with an attractively arching branching habit and good fall color; makes a choice specimen or massed where there is room

Ornamental Features

Japanese Snowball Viburnum features showy balls of white flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The serrated pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Japanese Snowball Viburnum is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Japanese Snowball Viburnum is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Japanese Snowball Viburnum will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Fall Color  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features