Adjust Nutrition Noteworthy Characteristics. These flowers are then replaced by small red berries that will attract birds. Many cultivars bear ornamental fruits, but viburnums are best known for their spectacular blossoms that can range from cream and white to partly or wholly pink. They may also not bloom the first year after they have been planted. A friend gave me a small snowball viburnum about twelve or thirteen years ago, in a one-gallon pot. The soil can be acidic or alkaline. Japanese Snowball Tree Easy-growing yet super elegant, the Japanese Snowball Bush is known for its full white blooms and vibrant green foliage that welcome spring. The Japanese Snowbell is simple, compact and manageable. Exercise foresight at planting and incorporate peat moss into your site to acidify your soil. The specific bloom times for "snowball bushes"—a name that most often refers to viburnums—vary by species, ranging from late April to early June. Consider adjusting the surroundings to let in more sun, or move the shrub to a sunnier spot. Regarded as one of the best heat and drought tolerant viburnums, Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum 'Popcorn' (Japanese Snowball) is a dense, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub of upright habit, adorned with strongly-veined, dark green leaves that turn attractive burgundy and red shades in the fall. If a snowball bush isn’t covered with blooms during its appointed time, one factor or more may be to blame. I purchased a blooming snowball bush last year and this year it is growing but no blooms. The straight species, Viburnum plicatum , is sterile; it flowers beautifully but will not set fruit. Japanese Snowball shrubs are a gardener's dream, blooming April-May, the showy rich white flower clusters make excellent cut flower arrangements. Snowball bush prefers consistently moist soils with excellent drainage. The leaves are strongly veined and have an almost ruffled appearance. A stunning flowering bush in any garden with the added bonus of producing fantastic flowers for cutting. Improper fertilizers can deter blooming. Unlike many viburnums that offer beautiful fruit displays, this sterile shrub has no fall fruit -- only brilliant fall foliage. Snowball Bush Facts. The straight species, Viburnum plicatum, is sterile; it flowers beautifully but will not set fruit. An annual acid-building mulch such as peat moss or shredded pine bark helps keep pH low. Snowball Bush Doesn't Bloom. Healthy soils provide everything the plant needs. Order online today for fast doorstep delivery! These plants benefit from cross-pollination.) An annual acid-building mulch such as peat moss or shredded pine bark helps keep pH low. The architecture that the staged branches present is extremely rare in the plant world and make this a very distinctive plant. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, snowball can be stressed temporarily by temperatures extremes as well. – if it’s a Japanese snowball, it’ll start blooming … Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Many cultivars bear ornamental fruits, but viburnums are best known for their spectacular blossoms that can range from cream and white to partly or wholly pink. If lacking water or receiving too much, a stressed snowball bush may stop flowering. Improper pruning can leave snowball bush bloomless. Topping out at 15 feet (4.57 m.), Japanese snowball trees might better be termed shrubs. tomentosum near each other. The first thing to know about snowball bushes is that there are several different types. Its springtime blossoms burst from buds set the summer before. If that’s the case, it might not ever bloom. If fruit set is desired, plant two or more different cultivars of the variety Viburnum plicatum var. (Viburnum tomentosum, the Doublefile Viburnum, produces similar flowers, which develop fruits at the end of the summer. For best blooming, provide snowball with at least six hours of direct, full sun each day. Blooming on both old and new wood, this Viburnum withstands tough conditions and outlasts the competition. Climate: Snowball bushes grow in a temperate climate. Trim the sides of the plant into shape if needed. But this small deciduous tree also has a showy trunk and branch structures, dark green foliage through summer, and gray fruit (drupes) from late summer through late fall. This large shrub grows into an upright dense mound. Japanese snowball bush, blooming in Area F. (photo: Aleks Monk) The two forms of V. plicatum are similar in their cultural requirements and in most other respects, including foliage and fall color. Stressful conditions can put snowball's flowers on hold. Common snowball bush (Viburnum opulus "Roseum") graces gardens with a blizzard of 3-inch, snowball-like flower clusters in late spring. Chinese snowball viburnum blooms earlier and has a shorter bloom time than the hydrangeas, though sometimes it will have some late summer blooms. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! This large shrub grows into an upright dense mound. Too much nitrogen may also limit blooms by forcing foliar growth. Gary Ladman; Viburnum Expert, Classic Viburnums; Upland, Nebraska. On Japanese snowball viburnum, the blossom balls measure two to three inches across. See more ideas about Planting flowers, Plants, Flower garden. The only requirement is moist and well-drained soil. If your snowball bush is planted in a shaded location, this may be why it won't flower. Flowering – May to October. To flower heavily, snowball bush normally doesn't need extra nutrition. Consider adjusting the surroundings to let in more sun, or move the shrub to a sunnier spot. This will lead to quick blooming. I planted it at the end of a garden wall and after about five years, I began to limb it up, in effect making it a little tree with three main trunks. The shrub stays healthy in full sun to part shade, but sunlight influences blooms. Climate: Snowball bushes grow in a temperate climate. The Snowball's flowers emerge a striking lime-green in late spring and gradually turn to snowy-white in mid-May, retaining their color for several weeks at a time. Plan your garden accordingly so that your tree doesn’t end up infringing on other plants! Depending on the timing and duration, the variation may either reduce or eliminate blooming. Although the snowball flowers bloom on old wood in viburnum plants, the oldest shoots produce weak flowers and are safe to remove. With Eastern snowball viburnum, flowers burst into their glory late spring to … Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service: Plant of the Week Snowball Viburnum, Harvard University Arnold Arboretum: Flowering Times in Viburnum, University of Illinois Extension: Time to Prune Spring-Blooming Shrubs, Sunset Plant Finder: Viburnum Opulus "Roseum" -- Common Snowball, Classic Viburnums: Viburnum Opulus "Roseum" -- European Snowball Viburnum, National Gardening Association: Pruning a Viburnum, University of California Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Autumn Glow - A Photo Essay. Buy a snowball tree sapling at a … What Month is it Okay to Cut Back Epimedium? If your snowball bush is planted in a shaded location, this may be why it won't flower. (Viburnum tomentosum, the Doublefile Viburnum, produces similar flowers, which develop fruits at the end of the summer. Simply The Perfect Ornamental For Your Garden The bell-shaped flowers make this tree the perfect showpiece. The Japanese Viburnum is an extremely hardy variety that is resistant to bacterial leaf spot and powdery mildew too, unlike its relatives. Snowball Bush Facts. There are more than 150 varieties of viburnum, a flowering shrug that includes semi-evergreen, evergreen and deciduous cultivars. Japanese snowball trees (Viburnum plicatum) are likely to win a gardener’s heart with their lacy white globes of flower clusters hanging heavy on the branches in spring. The first thing to know about snowball bushes is that there are several different types. The fragrant flowers bloom in the hundreds and provide endless visual appeal for your landscape. Japanese snowbell tree is prized for its graceful spreading canopy and white or pink, bell-shape spring flowers. The specific bloom times for "snowball bushes"—a name that most often refers to viburnums—vary by species, ranging from late April to early June. I've had a snowball bush for about five years now and it has yet to produce even one single bloom. If your snowball bush is not blooming, investigate key areas of care and culture to get this dependable garden stalwart back on track. Delicate white bell-shaped flowers droop from the horizontal branches of the Japanese Snowbell. If soil moisture levels are off, blooming may cease. During the growing season, snowball bush viburnum has green leaves that provide a beautiful backdrop to the spring flower show. It has LOTS of beautiful leaves and branches, but no blooms. Viburnum, like other spring bloomers, must be pruned immediately following blooming. Best of all is the fact that we plant, grow and ship your Japanese Snowball with care. You don't have to worry … I have a snowball bush that won't bloom. Prune at another time of year and you will prune away your flower buds. The most common is the European snowball bush, which is also called Roseum, according to DIY Network.There are also other types, such as the Japanese snowball bush, Chinese snowball bush, and the fragrant snowball bush. On top of its amazing flowering, the silhouette of viburnum plicatum is also appealing in itself. Too much shade means few or no blooms. Viburnum buds form in the fall and survive cold weather wrapped in thick sepals. Most viburnum species only bloom for a few short weeks in the early summer and young viburnums almost always require a few years to establish their root systems before presenting their colorful display. This large shrub is disease and deer resistant as well as low maintenance and shade tolerant! If pruned back heavily, it may need several seasons before it blooms again. Viburnum, like other spring bloomers, must be pruned immediately following blooming. The three-inch clusters of snowball flowers start out apple-green and morph to white, eventually fading to a rosy color, as do some hydrangea shrubs.. You can cut the flowers to use in displays. I planted it at the end of a garden wall and after about five years, I began to limb it up, in effect making it a little tree with three main trunks. It didn't do a lot the first couple years, although it began to bloom vigorously after that. Snowball bush tolerates a range of light levels. Viburnum snowball bush is popular and easy to grow. Jolene Hansen is a lifelong gardening enthusiast and former horticulture professional. She is passionate about reshaping the way people experience gardens and gardening. Japanese snowball (Viburnum plicatum) produces sterile flowers and should bloom without the company of another Viburnum. This large shrub is disease and deer resistant as well as low maintenance and shade tolerant! 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