Snowball Bush Care: How to Grow Snowball Viburnum Plants

Snowball bushes (or snowball bush viburnums) are flowering shrubs with dark green leaves and bushy flowers that change color throughout their life cycle. Their round, clustering appearance makes them look like snowballs, hence the plant’s common name. Depending on the species, these can be evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous shrubs. Although similar in appearance, they bear no relation to the Hydrangea arborescens plant.

Snowball bush blooms generally start out green, progress to white at maturity, and develop a pinkish hue as they fade. Their vibrant green foliage gives way to a purplish color in the fall. At a mature height, they can reach the size of a small tree (around twelve to fifteen feet). All snowball bushes are hybrids (or cultivars) of the Viburnum opulus plant. You can’t grow snowball bushes directly from seed, as they require a great deal of cross-pollination and human intervention to reproduce in nurseries. Once they begin to grow, however, they’re fairly easy to propagate.

Each snowball bush plant has a unique flair of its own. Here are just four you can consider adding to your garden:

1. 1. Chinese snowball bush: Notably, Chinese snowball viburnum plants—also known as Viburnum macrocephalum—allow their flowers to open up more widely. These plants’ blooms transition from clumped-up “snowballs” to a flatter and more traditional look as they mature.
2. 2. Eastern snowball bush: Perhaps the most common snowball plant, the Eastern or European snowball bush (Viburnum opulus 'Roseum’) can grow so tall it’s also known as a snowball tree. Some refer to it as a guelder-rose.
3. 3. Fragrant snowball bush: This viburnum shrub’s white flowers give off a pleasant aroma in late spring. These plants tend to be a little on the smaller end as well. Their botanical name is Viburnum carlcephalum.
4. 4. Japanese snowball bush: Also called Viburnum plicatum, this snowball viburnum bush complements its showy flowers with pleated green leaves. It thrives in both full sun and part shade.

These plants require straightforward upkeep. Follow these seven tips to remain vigilant about their care and help them flourish:

1. 1. Check your climate. As their name might suggest, these plants are quite cold-hardy, but you should still check a USDA Zones map to make sure they’ll make it from late winter this year to early spring next year. They’ll have no problem surviving in plant Hardiness Zones 3–9, although it doesn’t hurt to overwinter them in your preferred way (especially in the lower zones).
2. 2. Give them plenty of light. While they will do fine in partial shade, these plants love the light of a full sun throughout their growing season. Plant your shrubs in an area of your garden where they can bask in the sunshine for at least six hours a day—this is key to helping your snowball bush viburnum grow to its full potential.
3. 3. Plant appropriately. Snowball bushes are cultivars that require a lot of human assistance to reproduce. For this reason, you must plant young snowball bushes rather than grow them directly from seed. Get a premade root ball instead and add it to your garden with the top couple inches still sticking up above the ground. Give them a wide growing zone since their roots can spread out very far. Cover these with plenty of mulch to encourage the new growth to start quickly. Do this in early spring to see them start sprouting later on during the season or in early summer.
4. 4. Propagate if you wish. Propagating snowball bushes is a much easier DIY task than initially planting them. Trim the plants’ stems and replant them—you can even remove the top blooms for some cut flowers along the way. Make sure to prune or trim the bushes if they begin growing too tall for your garden.
5. 5. Treat pests and diseases early. As with any other type of plant, snowball bushes occasionally fall victim to pests and disease. Whether you’re dealing with aphids or powdery mildew, the key is to act early. Remove diseased portions of your plant and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to areas afflicted by insects as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more lasting the damage they will cause.
6. 6. Use the right kind of soil. Snowball bushes are adaptable—they can thrive in acidic or alkaline soils—but they do best in a loamy environment. Aim for a soil pH of around 5.5–8.0 if possible. Additionally, make sure the soil drains well—too much water can cause root rot beneath the ground.
7. 7. Water amply. Though these low-maintenance plants are quite drought-tolerant, they do best when they have steady and copious access to water. As a general rule of thumb, thoroughly water their environment every couple of weeks. Any time you notice their surroundings are dry, rather than moist, you’re safe to add more water. Still, avoid overwatering them and making the ground soggy.

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