Although they have a similar appearance, the snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) and the snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum) are two distinct species of plants. Both are deciduous shrubs with some similarities and some differences. Native to China and Japan, snowball bushes, also known as Japanese snowball bushes, flourish in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. In USDA zones 3 through 9, the snowball hydrangea, sometimes known as smooth hydrangea, is a native of the Eastern United States.
What does a snowball bush’s official name mean?
Every snowball bush plant has a distinctive personality all its own. Here are only four that you might think about including in your garden:
- 1. Chinese snowball bushes, also known as Viburnum macrocephalum, are notable for allowing their blossoms to open up more widely. As these plants develop, the flowers change from clumped-up “snowballs” to a flatter and more conventional appearance.
- 2. Eastern snowball bush: The Eastern or European snowball bush (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’) can grow so large that it is also referred to as a snowball tree. It is possibly the most popular snowball plant. It’s referred to as a guelder-rose by some.
- 3. Fragrant snowball bush: In late spring, this viburnum shrub’s white blossoms release a delightful scent. These plants also tend to be somewhat on the smaller side. Viburnum carlcephalum is the name of the plant.
- 4. The Japanese snowball bush, also known as Viburnum plicatum, has pleated green leaves that contrast with its brilliant blossoms. Both full sun and partial shade are beneficial to it.
What other name would you give snowball flowers?
Love the lovely snowball bush so much? The name “snowball bush” refers to seven different viburnum plants, so you can easily fulfill your objectives. One of the most typical is arguably the European snowball shrub, commonly known as Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’. Japanese snowball bush, also known as Viburnum plicatum, and fragrant snowball bush are other favorites (Viburnum carlcephalum). The grand-flowering snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum ‘Grandiflorum’) and Chinese snowball bush (Viburnum macrocephalum) are both traditional varieties.
What distinguishes a snowball hydrangea from a snowball viburnum?
Large clusters of blooms that emerge as pale green and eventually become white are produced by the traditional snowball bush (Hydrangea arborescens), commonly known as the Anabelle hydrangea. Despite the fact that the two plants are unrelated, the Chinese snowball viburnum bush (Viburnum macrocephalum) resembles it in appearance and likewise produces flowers that start out pale green and eventually become white. If you’re unsure of how to differentiate snowball bushes, search for these traits:
- Viburnums grow to a height of 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters), but snowball hydrangea shrubs only reach heights of 4 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters). It is a viburnum if the shrub you are looking at is well over 6 feet (2 meters) tall.
- A snowball viburnum bush cannot survive in a region that is colder than USDA plant hardiness zone 6. In cooler regions, snowball shrubs are presumably hydrangeas.
- Compared to viburnums, hydrangeas have a much longer blooming season, with flowers often lingering on the bush for up to two months. Viburnums bloom throughout the summer, whereas hydrangeas bloom in the spring and can rebloom in the fall.
- Smaller flower heads on hydrangeas rarely measure more than 8 inches (20.5 cm) in diameter. The size of a viburnum flower head ranges from 20.5 to 30.5 cm (8 to 12 inches).
Both of these shrubs need light shade and moist but well-drained soil to thrive. Viburnum may survive brief periods of drought, while hydrangea is picky about its moisture.
The two bushes’ pruning techniques make a significant difference. Hydrangeas should have a severe winter pruning. This encourages them to grow again in the springtime, thick and leafy. On the other hand, viburnums require pruning as soon as the flowers stop blooming. The lovely burst of blooms for the following year can be lost if you wait too long.
Where should a snowball shrub be planted?
Not your typical shrub, the Common Snowball Bush is unique. When you want your landscape to be seen, you choose a flashy plant for your home! There are other bushes that are comparable to the gorgeous Common Snowball Viburnum, but you can’t go wrong with it.
There are no messy fruits to stomp on or invasive spreading with the Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’. This shrub blooms profusely and for a longer period of time than comparable kinds because it doesn’t yield fruit. The Common Snowball shrub is substantially more hardy than comparable plants, and has a far higher resilience to disease. The Common Snowball is as durable as it is attractive, and it can withstand freezing temperatures as low as zone 3.
In the spring, a profusion of breathtaking hydrangea-like pom-pom flowers bloom. These flowers begin as green and over several weeks turn completely white. Summer blossoms continue from spring! This Snowball Viburnum will produce a ton of blooms! Take pleasure in your cut flowers at home or offer them as gifts!
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To mature at a height of 10-15 feet, it can grow up to 24″ every year. For a thick screen, leave 8 to 9 feet between each.
Plant this versatile Viburnum in grow zones 3–8 with exposure to full sun to part shade. When planted with these bushes, hydrangeas and azaleas look beautiful together.
There are several different Viburnum species, including, to name a few, European, Chinese, and Japanese Snowball bushes.
Planting
In full sun to partial shade, plant. Although the Common Snowball Bush can tolerate moderate shade, about six hours of direct sunlight each day is optimum for blooming. Although a well-draining, slightly acidic soil is excellent, this resistant viburnum may grow in a variety of soil types.
Watering
When a plant is newly planted and during establishment, water deeply two to three times each week. The Snowball Bush can tolerate drought, but if the soil gets too dry, watering will improve its performance.
Maintenance
Although this viburnum tolerates pruning well, it does not need it to grow successfully. This substantial shrub is heat- and deer-tolerant, disease- and pest-resistant, and simple to maintain.
The Common Snowball Bush looks great as a center piece in cottage gardens and mixed plantings. Consider using this sturdy, cool viburnum as a formal hedge or screen. For a dense screen, space plants 8 or 9 feet apart. A dramatic anchor plant to soften your home’s corners is the Common Snowball. Instead of a tree, this huge shrub makes the ideal focus point for small yards. In fact, this Snowball bush can be pruned to resemble a tree. Go ahead and experiment with hedges, shaped shrubs, and treeforms because it tolerates harsh pruning! This bush’s gorgeous, luxuriant blossoms will soften any scene.
Are snowball bushes always green?
Different Snowball Bush varieties need different kinds of maintenance. Viburnum plicatum, the Snowball Bush’s scientific name, is also sometimes shortened to Snowball Viburnum.
Different Snowball Viburnum Types Include:
- V. burkwoodii – A smaller type that reaches a height of 10 feet and has a fragrant, spicy scent.
- The “fragrant snowball” form of V. carlcephalum is smaller and has a stronger scent.
It’s important to distinguish between snowball viburnum and hydrangea arborescens. Despite the fact that both require identical care, it’s critical to understand which kind you have.
Common Names of Snowball Viburnum Bushes Include:
- U.S. Snowball Tree
- Snowball Tree in Japanese
- The Japanese Snowball Bush is recognized for its large white blossoms and brilliant green leaves that usher in spring. It is also known for being extremely easy to grow. The snowy-white blossoms of the Snowball begin as a brilliant lime-green in late spring and gradually change to that hue by mid-May, holding onto it for a period of time.
How much time does a snowball shrub need to bloom?
Like lilacs, snowball bushes have their own season. In the late spring, ours will bloom for about three weeks.
Our Vibernum opulus roseum is beginning to create its green blossoms at the same time the lilacs are in full bloom. In our growing zone, this takes place just around the end of May.
The blooms reached their height in mid-June and then vanished within a week.
There is no proof that the bush had any blooms towards the end of August. There are no berries with seeds to allow the plant to propagate because it is sterile.
Although none of the leaves have yet changed color, we are expecting for some stunning fall foliage.
Are snowball hydrangea and Annabelle the same?
Popular ornamental plant with lots of flowers, snowball viburnum. This plant is prized for its snowball-like circular clusters of white flowers that enchant both adults and children. Its leaves change to vivid reds in the fall.
Although it makes a good privacy screen or single accent shrub, snowball viburnum may also grow into a thick hedge.
A cold-tolerant shrub called Annabelle Hydrangea is well recognized for its massive, dense clusters of white flowers. In contrast to most floral species, hydrangeas thrive in some shade. They may, however, grow in direct sunlight if the soil is continually moist.
Regular trimming in the late winter is suggested since blooms grow on fresh wood. Try using Annabelle Hydrangea alone or as a border.
How should a snowball hydrangea be pruned?
When mature Chinese viburnum flowers form primarily on the upper section of the shrub, remove older limbs. To rejuvenate the shrub, prune one to three of the oldest branches back to the ground. If your smooth-leaf hydrangeas are overgrown, you can revive them by cutting up to one-third of the old stems to the ground. Use renewal only on overgrown or bloom-less plants because it may impact the following year’s bloom.
Tip
Snowball bushes like H. macrophylla, H. paniculata, and V. macrocephalum react to total renewal by cutting the shrub to the ground, but it could take more than one season before they start blooming heavily again. If pruned to the ground in the winter, annabels will blossom as usual. Viburnums and hydrangeas will sucker, or send up new branches, in response to severe trimming. If you wish to stop the spread of your snowball shrub, trim these back as soon as they appear. Before cutting branches and after finishing each plant, sterilize cutting implements with a 10 percent solution of household bleach and water or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
Warning
Before pruning, locate existing snowball bush shrubs and finish pruning at the appropriate time. Annual pruning demands differ, are time-sensitive, and come in several forms: Viburnum, for instance, requires little frequent pruning, whilst Annabelle just needs annual renewal trimming to remain clean and prolific.
What other flower resembles hydrangeas?
Hydrangea-like Clusters of Red Flowers Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) produce enormous, opulent clusters of flowers in the summer that resemble hydrangeas in hues of red, white, and various colors of pink and purple.
Snowball hydrangeas are found where?
Consider carefully where to plant a snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), also known as a smooth hydrangea, if you recently bought one. Make careful to plant this hydrangea where it will have enough space to grow to its full size as it will reach a height of three to five feet. Although it may grow in a wide range of soil types, this plant thrives in rich, well-drained soil that is kept constantly moist. Keep your newly planted snowball hydrangea thoroughly watered for the duration of the first year while it establishes itself. This shrub flowers most effectively in dappled shade throughout the day or early sun and afternoon shade. It blooms better the more morning sunlight it receives. The leaves, however, can be scorched by a strong afternoon sun.