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Planting Snowball Bushes Snowball bushes are perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, depending on species and cultivar, and they prefer full sun but also do well with partial shade. Best planted in the fall or spring, snowball bushes appreciate well-drained soil.
Does a snowball bush come back every year?
paniculata and V. macrocephalum snowball bushes respond to complete renewal — cutting the shrub to the ground — but may take more than one season to resume heavy blooming. Annabelles will bloom as usual if cut to the ground during winter.
Do snowballs like sun or shade?
During the growing season, snowball bush viburnum has green leaves that provide a beautiful backdrop to the spring flower show. It’s an easy-growing shrub that thrives in full sun to part shade.
Do snowball bushes spread?
Snowball bushes are prized for their spreading, arching habit, but do not need pruning for successful development. However, gardeners may trim them to maintain their shape. In addition, though mulch is not necessary for growth, it assists in maintaining a healthy plant.
Are hydrangeas and snowball bushes the same?
Although they look similar, snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum) and the snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) are actually two different plants. The two are both deciduous shrubs with similar characteristics and some distinctions.
How much sun does a snowball bush need?
Snowball Bushes flourish when given six to eight hours of full sun outdoors. These bushes need moist, humus-rich, moderately alkaline soil that drains well, so you may need to amend the soil before planting.
Do you deadhead snowball bushes?
Expect viburnum snowball bushes to blossom in May. Deadheading, or cutting off the flowers, won’t harm viburnum. However, doing it isn’t necessary and prevents the plant from growing berries.
When can I transplant a snowball bush?
Spring is the best time to transplant the snowball bush. The shrub’s buds form in the summer or fall, so to avoid removing next season’s blooms, transplant the snowball bush immediately after it finishes flowering.
Why does my snowball bush not bloom?
For best blooming, provide snowball with at least six hours of direct, full sun each day. Too much shade means few or no blooms. If your snowball bush is planted in a shaded location, this may be why it won’t flower. Consider adjusting the surroundings to let in more sun, or move the shrub to a sunnier spot.
Are snowball bushes poisonous to dogs?
According to The ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, no viburnum species are listed as toxic to dogs. Keep in mind that many plants in your yard can be dangerous to you canine if ingested.
How do I plant a snowball bush?
Dig a shallow and broad hole that is as deep as the root ball but two to three times wider. Fill the hole with the removed soil, with the root crown remaining about 2 inches above the soil level. Water the newly planted bush well and place mulch around it about 4 inches deep.
How do you winterize a snowball bush?
Your new snowball bush (Viburnum opulus) is hardy in zones 4-8 so it will survive your winters without problem. I wouldn’t wrap the branches, but I’d mulch over the root area just to keep them protected this first year. If there’s any winter damage evident next spring, prune it off to encourage healthy new growth.
How do you start a snowball bush?
To layer snowball bush, bury part of a branch so roots form while the branch is still attached to the mother plant. Begin in spring or early summer. Choose a supple, actively growing branch that is about pencil size up to 1 inch in diameter.
Do butterflies like snowball bushes?
This striking plant can grow to a height ranging from 6 to 20 feet tall, with a spread of up to 10 feet. The florets emerge lime green, but quickly turn into showy white flower clusters of up to 8 inches across that look like snowballs and attract butterflies.
Do deer eat snowball bushes?
The snowball bush, also known as the snowball virburnum or Viburnum x burkwoodii, offers some resistance to browsing deer. According to the University of Georgia, deer tend to avoid plants with strong fragrances. The snowball bush produces fragrant blossoms, which can help to deter deer.
Do snowball hydrangeas need full sun?
To get the most flowers and dark green leaves, you should plant snowball hydrangea in partial sun to partial shade. While it is tolerant of many soil types, this hydrangea prefers rich, well-drained soil that stays consistently moist. The more morning sun it gets, the better it blooms.
Is snowball viburnum invasive?
Viburnum plicatum (Japanese Snowball) is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
Are snowball trees Evergreen?
Viburnum, also known as Snowball, is a diverse family of shrubs. There are varieties that remain green in winter, semi-evergreens and varieties that lose all their leaves.
Can you divide a snowball bush?
Take a cutting from a snowball bush in the first half of the growing season and create new snowball bushes for your growing areas. Cut a stem from the snowball bush that is the current year’s growth. Current stems on the shrub are suitable for rooting when you bend a stem and it snaps into two pieces.
How do you fertilize a snowball bush?
Fertilizing Snowball Bushes Feed your Snowball with a shot of a water-soluble, general-purpose fertilizer every two months from spring to fall. You can also use a well-balanced blend, like 10-10-10, and follow label instructions.
How tall does a viburnum grow?
Viburnums range from 3-foot-tall shrubs to 15-foot-tall trees.
How long do snowball bushes bloom?
A snowball viburnum bush won’t tolerate a climate colder than U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 6. Snowball bushes growing in colder climates are probably hydrangeas. The hydrangeas have a much longer bloom period than the viburnums, with blossoms remaining on the shrub for as long as two months.
