Viburnum 'snowball' in MD

19 years ago

I bought a viburnum 'snowball' at my local Wal-Mart, and I was wondering if anyone in the z7 (Montgomery County) area has had any experience with this plant. Please share your experience.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

breezyb
19 years ago
I haven't grown it here in VA yet (although I plan to), but did grow it successfully back in Zone 7 NY.

It reached about 6' in height & about the same or more in breadth, & by late summer/early fall was literally covered with huge round balls of white flowers.

They were lovely both on the bush & as cut flowers.

It's a very nice shrub - but do give it enough room.
busyasabee
Original Author
18 years ago
Alas, sad to say my viburnum didn't make it. May it rest in peace! The pictures of the flowers looked beautiful, oh how I wished the plant survived.
Related Discussions
Looking to trade for snowball bush (viburnum opulus) in spring..
Q
Comments (17)
I think that I DID run the car over the V. opulus - great way to divide the plant! One of mine was a pup off an established shrub that had gotten in the way of a hose bibb and I had someone dig it out and he didn't know what to do with it so he left it sitting off the driveway (on soil) and about six months later when I got around to moving it to the compost pile, it had rooted in! You're dead right about zonal imbalances (like hormonal imbalances?) and no one should be shipping plants around once it warms up. I just explained our planting timing by way of illustration because it is so different than the majority of the country, and even zone 9 doesn't really explain what it's like here because we have so much ocean influence. We run in the high 70's/low 80's in summer with ocean breeze so your'e right, we don't have temps in the 90s unless it is a heat wave. So the best way to describe our weather is 'mild', which really doesn't describe any of the weather in z5,6,7,etc. We'll hope that PF finds the V. o. r. and yes, John, your wife will just love those flowers. They are pretty gorgeous when they first come out and they are that lovely shade of lime green. All this rapture about such a weedy shrub, but isn't it nice that we can find love in all the wrong places?
...See More
Chinese Snowball Bush (Viburnum) roots but dies when potted
Q
Comments (11)
purpleinopp, thx for your response. I have always used the intermittent mist propagation technique using coarse sand as my medium. Sand is cheap and the bed and timer takes care of babysitting the cuttings for me. I root large quantities of plants, many, many different kinds and then transfer to pots of soil once they establish a nice root mass. I do this for many reasons: for fun, to "free-scape" parts of my yard, to have plenty of plants to share at plant swaps and hopefully at some point to start selling some at farmers markets, plant yard sales, etc.... I originally started with a nursery bed to put rooted cuttings in but found it to be easier, at least for my needs, to put them directly into pots instead, especially if the end goal is to either give many of them away or sell them. Hardest part is keeping up with summer watering needs since they can dry out quickly. The potting mix I make was based on many suggestions, posts, blogs and websites from other propagators and growers and everything else seems to transfer well to it except for the viburnum. I just read someone else who propagates viburnum uses a commercial potting soil mixed 1/2 with sand. I may try rooting them directly in that and then just up-potting as lyndapaz suggested instead of rooting in the propagation sand box. I may also attempt air and/or ground layering with my large mother plant. As for timing, I prefer to work with soft wood to semi-hardwood cuttings in mid-late spring/early summer on most things and that's typically what I've been rooting from the viburnum. I am less familiar with hardwood cuttings and never tried them much, mostly because of the patience needed for them to root. Perhaps I should give those a shot as well on this one. Danielle
...See More
Questions about Snowball Viburnum 'Roseum'
Q
Comments (5)
frankly ... in my world.. warped as it is ... you plant Vs ... for a green sight block ... because for 99% of the summer.. thats all you have ... love it or leave it ... the flowers are an ephemeral bonus ... not something 'I' would choose this bush for .. but for a couple exceptions ... i have the variegated version.. a sublime color show ... the flowers.. en masse... make me want to puke ... horrid .. lol.. maybe thats why i think as i do above ... on the other hand.. i have mohawk.. the fragrant one ... to die for.. and a week or 2 of drop dead gorgeous scent ... ken
...See More
snowball viburnum ??
Q
Comments (4)
The photo does not match the plants named so who knows which is correct? Viburnum japonicum is an evergreen with long, pointed leaves and flowers held in flattened cymes. Japanese snowball is a Viburnum plicatum cultivar, with the rounded, pleated (unlobed) leaves common to that species. Photo looks like Viburnum opulus 'Sterile' or Eastern snowball and does have lobed maple shaped eaves. Which one of these might be correct as to what's being sold is a toss up until planted and growing. Personally, I'd find another vendor that markets their plants with correct names and photos.
...See More
Brent_In_NoVA
18 years ago
Really? What happened? Was the plant leafed out when you purchased it? Do you know what kind of Viburnum it is? I have seen the "snowball" name listed with a variety of Viburnums. I purchased two Blue Muffin Viburnums (Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin') at Home Depot this year. One of them has some leaves but the other is still leafless. I am still holding out hope because I understand these leaf out late and both have green under the bark.

BTW, I think that WalMart has a plant guarantee, so you could at least get your money back.

- Brent
busyasabee
Original Author
18 years ago
It started leafing out a little bit, and then kaput...it died. The leaves fell, and now all I have are brown sticks in a pot! Thanks for the info regarding Walmart plant guarantee, I plan on getting my money back.
Brent_In_NoVA
18 years ago
busyasabee: This sounds like a good learning experience to figure out why the plant died. It sounds like it was alive when you brought it home. Did you keep it in its pot or did you plant it in the ground. Did you water it enough? Too much? Did it get too much sun? Did the plant seem to have a healthy root system? Was it root bound?

I am not saying that YOU killed the plant, because plants die in the hands of the most experienced gardeners. My goal is to try to kill fewer plants each year.

- Brent
msmeliss58
18 years ago
I bought two dying ones last year and planted them in the corners of my bed around our gazabo. They are beautiful this spring. In fact they and one painted fern are the only things that survived the winter. I kinda knew they might get big for the area but it said they liked to have wet feet and this are is very wet from the rain draining off the roof of the gazabo.

Related Stories

SPRING GARDENING Spring Fling: Visit a Garden in Full Glory

By Becky Harris

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is blooming three weeks ahead of schedule. Come take a peek with us

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Relish the Romance of a Slovenian Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Dappled with coneflowers and bursting with hydrangeas, a romantic European garden near the Julian Alps inspires enchantment

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

Full Story

227

FALL GARDENING 9 Deer-Resistant Flowering Shrubs to Plant This Fall

By Brian Barth

These exquisite shrubs will attract your attention but won’t tempt the deer that roam your neighborhood at night

Full Story

FALL GARDENING Why Fall Is the Best Time for Planting

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spring is overrated for planting. Starting plants in autumn has advantages for both garden and gardener

Full Story

118

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Show Us Your Garden Retreat

By Annie Thornton

Where do you go to get away from it all and unwind in your yard?

Full Story

113

By Paintbox Garden

Create enchanting outdoor spots with fresh white fences, florals and furniture

Full Story

WHITE What to Know Before You Paint Your Walls White

By Kimberly Collins Jermain

A coat of white paint can do wonders in one room and wreak havoc in another. Here are tips for using the popular hue

Full Story

229

GARDENING GUIDES Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Green-Only Gardens Draw the Eye and Soothe the Spirit

By Frank Organ

Use plant and foliage variety to create a monochromatic landscape as visually pleasing as it is calming

Full Story

Viburnum 'snowball' in MD

Comments (6)

breezyb

busyasabee
Original Author

Related Discussions

Brent_In_NoVA

busyasabee
Original Author

Brent_In_NoVA

msmeliss58

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Viburnum 'snowball' in MD

Comments (6)

breezyb

busyasabeeOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Brent_In_NoVA

busyasabeeOriginal Author

Brent_In_NoVA

msmeliss58

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

busyasabee
Original Author

busyasabee
Original Author