Snowball Bush Facts: Learn How To Care For Your Precious Plant

Snowball bush is also known as guelder rose, the name of a few ornamental plants that produce white flowers.

It includes two hydrangea species that are lower in the summer and a few viburnum species that flower in the spring. These plants are mainly found in Northern Africa, Europe and Central Asia.

Though they are capable of tolerating a wide variety of soil conditions, they thrive when they are planted in loamy soil with direct sunlight or partial shade. They produce berries and pollinate only under the right conditions. They produce flowers that initially start out as apple green and turn into bright white flowers. The large shrub has emerald green leaves that are similar to the leaves of maple trees. This ornamental plant is drought hardy and flowers every 10 days in spring. These white flowers are widely used in floral displays. Continue reading to know more about snowball bush planting and care. You can also check out our other articles on wallflower plant facts and the Gros Michel banana plant.

How to Grow Your Snowball Bush

Growing a snowball bush is quite easy if you follow a few basic steps. It is a low maintenance flowering plant.

Choose a large enough space for the plant to develop without being hampered, since the snowball bush will quickly become huge once it begins to grow. One of the most important considerations while plating a snowy bush is the season. The snowball shrub can only be planted in the spring or snowball. Begin by digging a superficial, broad hole that is at least twice the width of the root ball. Cover the root ball with the soil that was scooped out after the root has been placed. The stem of the root must be 2 in (5 cm) above ground level. Water the bush well. Cover it with a layer of mulch. The thickness of the layer should be 4 in (10.1 cm). Adding mulch also helps in suppressing weeds. It's also crucial to plant the shrub in a location where it will receive direct sunlight. If you have other plant species, solitary planting must be considered as the snowball bush is considered an invasive deciduous shrub that competes with other plants for nutrients and space. Solitary planting will make sure that the snowball bush does not wreak havoc on other plant species.

Types of Snowball Bushes

There are five different types of snowball bushes. They are European snowball bush, Japanese Snowball Bush, Chinese Snowball Bush, Fragrant Snowball Bush and Grand-Flowering Japanese Snowball Bush.

European snowball bush (Viburnum opulus ) is the most common snowball bush. This is also known as Roseum and European Cranberry bush. This bush has white blooms which change into pink pompom blooms. The maple leaves become crimson, orange, or purple as the summer months approach. This plant does not do well in the dry ground. It thrives when it receives full sunlight.

The Japanese snowball (Viburnum plicatum) bush flowers during spring. The green flowers turn white as the season approaches. This plant is easy to cultivate and can grow as tall as 15 ft (4.5 m). Once spring passes, the heart shaped leaves of the Japanese snowball bush change colour. They turn yellow, red, or purple. This type can tolerate almost all soil types.

The Chinese snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum) bush is a large plant that can be 8-18 ft (2.4-5.4 m) tall. It also has large, pure white blossoms that resemble the flowers of hydrangeas. Wet soil is more suitable for the Chinese snowball bush. Though this plant might do well in partial sunlight to experience heavy flowering, it needs full sunlight. If you cannot tolerate floral scents, this is the perfect viburnum for you as it does not have fragrance.

As the name suggests, the fragrance snowball (Viburnum carlcephalum) bush produces an amazing scent. It is known for its extremely large pompom blooms. Each cluster has 100 individual flowers. It grows well in damp soil with full or partial sun.

The grand flowering snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum Grandiflorum) was introduced in the 1800s and is quite rare. It looks best in paved areas as it has the tendency to spread. This viburnum thrives on wet soil and produces faded white flowers with hints of pink or apricot tones.

Common Pests and Diseases

Pests are rarely a problem for Viburnums. Only when the plants are developing in less-than-ideal conditions can diseases and insect pest issues occur.

Fungal and algal leaf spots are caused by Cercospora species, Phoma species, Phyllosticta species and Cephaleuros virescens. The former occurs in hot and humid conditions, while the latter occurs in cool, moist conditions. Since humidity is the common affecting factor in both these conditions, keeping the leaf dry will help avoid fungal and algal leaf spots.

Powdery and down mildew is caused by the fungus Erysiphe viburni and Plasmopara viburni, respectively. Powdery mildew affects new leaves and shoots, leaving a powdery white layer. It is more prevalent in summer. Downy mildew varies from powdery mildew as it occurs on the lower surface. The damaged parts change colour and become brown or red. Humidity is the key factor in these conditions, too.

Root Weevils, spider mites, flower thrips, aphids, and Armillaria root rot are some of the other common diseases. Spraying neem oil and organic pesticides will help get rid of insects and pests.

Snowball Bush Care

Snowball bushes are easy to care for and maintain. You don't have to go out of your way to look after them.

The first thing to know about snowball bushes is that they do not grow well in dry soil, and too much humidity can cause a variety of diseases. Watering them in moderation and placing them under partial or full sunlight, depending on the species, is very essential. Snowball bushes thrive in moist, well-drained soil. A snowball tree will take more land than it did as a shrub, hence, it is important to find the correct spot while planting it. These plants do not need to be pruned on a regular basis. Mulch is necessary for a healthy plant as it helps retain moisture, keeps pests and diseases at bay and reduces the growth of weeds.

Pruning a Snowball Bush

Snowball shrubs do not require pruning quite often. If your bushes are taking an unappealing form or if you spot any old wood or leaf damage, you should consider trimming. Only those shrubs that have blossoms should be pruned. Avoid pruning before spring blossoms are developed as it hinders that plant from producing buds and berries. When you prune, start with the oldest branches to promote new growth. They are thicker and woodier, making it simple to identify them. Use shears and start from the parts that are close to the soil to eliminate shoots thoroughly. Viburnum snowball bushes are known for overgrowing and spreading. In order to keep the size in check, you can reduce the height by ⅓. You should inspect your snowball tree or bush quite often to make sure that they do not have any damages or rotten branches.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for snowball bush facts, then why not take a look at bamboo plants, or Nile River plants?