Viburnum (?) with flowers as big as hydrangea

16 years ago

While on a post dinner walk with my daughter Tess, I cam upon what appeared to be a viburnum with flowers as big as a hydrangea. Not 2-3 inch snowballs. Pure white flowers. As big as a mophead. Blooming with the tree peonies and azaleas.

What is it?

I am going to try my first photo attach.

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Probably Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum or the Japanese snowball viburnum. The cultivars 'Grandiflorum' and 'Popcorn' tend to have larger flowers than typical for this species.
viburnumvalley
16 years ago
I'll have to disagree with gardengal48.

I'd venture that philipw2 has run across one of the Viburnum macrocephalum, or Chinese snowball viburnum. It is most likely the one known as Viburnum macrocephalum 'Sterile'.

Tess will go far as a human scale. Well done.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
16 years ago
Viburnumvalley, delighted to see you posting again! Your knowledge was irreplaceable.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
And I very graciously will defer to Viburnumvalleys' opinion :-) His knowledge base of these plants is far superior to mine.
mrsboomernc
16 years ago
My first experience with rooting cuttings was with the Chinese Snowball (viburnum macrocephalum "sterile"). It rooted quickly - kept it in the container for a year till it was big enough to plant in my shrub border. That was 4 years ago and it's now over 6' tall and there's so many blooms I had to prop some branches up. The only water this shrub got last year fell from the sky - and my area was in the throes of an "extreme" drought until just recently.
goodhors
16 years ago
WOW! What lovely photos! I suppose this terrific shrub is a warm country speciman?

I am just getting some Hydrangeas going in my yard, so not familiar with many yet. Up North here, we need something pretty tough for winters, have to sacrifice owning some of those lovely southern beauties. I COULD think of someplace to fit it in, if it can take the cold.
philipw2
Original Author
16 years ago
The Plantfile in DavesGarden has it good through z6a. Sorry. But it isn't in my Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. (Did it have a different name earlier?)

ViburnumValley: Thank you for your id.

Elsewhere you describe this as a one season plant. Does it get ratty during the summer? Or is it just anonymous large and green when out of bloom, like say rose of sharon.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Philip, it's in my Dirr (5th edition, page 1062). He also remarks that it grows and flowers in Columbus, OH in a protected location, so hardiness is somewhat dependent on siting rather than specific zone. My interpretation of its being a one season plant is that it doesn't produce berries (sterile) and is not inclined to strong fall color or permanent foliage (it's semi-evergreen), typical characteristics that provide other viburnum species with multi-season interest.
philipw2
Original Author
16 years ago
I only have the 4th edition. I guess there goes another $50.
goodhors
16 years ago
You might check in used Book Stores for a cheaper copy. We have two college book stores in Lansing, and often GREAT bargins to be found. There are a lot of courses on Landscaping, shrubs and trees, so Dirr's book comes and goes. I got mine, recent edition then, used slightly, for $25. Ebay is another good source, got my Latin translation on plant names book there for $5. INVALUABLE when I did the Shrubs cleass.

Thanks for the sad news on zone, but that happens. I am a zone 5 for sure. Don't need any more bushes to coddle. One tender Japanese Maple is enough. He sure is cute though.

I have some shrub cuttings coming along. Interesting to read that note on them above, Just learned how to do that! Not sure what I will do with all these orphan shrubs, but they will find a home.