Choosing between Snowball Viburnums

8 years ago

I want a snowball bush, but am being indecisive. I want beautiful flowers, nice fall color and a nice branching habit in winter. I would prefer something not too fussy (bugs). I am concerned about the size at maturity. I had picked Viburnum oculus roseum, but read if I pruned it smaller to around 5-6 feet every year it would stop blooming. I would consider Viburnum plicatum and Viburnum macrocephalum, because I prefer the shape of the leaves, but also wonder about eventual size. I don't require fruit or scent, but don't mind them either. Has anyone an opinion on these shrubs? Does anyone try to tame it (keep it short) with success?

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Comments (4)

Xty G (z4)
7 years ago
Reviving because I would love to read some answers.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
7 years ago
I have cut Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' to the ground frequently, just because it gets so big and rangy. You won't get flowers (or won't get many) the first year after cutting. Then it goes back to blooming as normal. V. plicatum is less successful when cut hard, as much of its beauty is from its architecture. I cut it hard once to move it and it took several years to regain any kind of decent shape. Have you considered Viburnum carlesii? Much slower growing. Lovely, scented flowers but no fall color (it's evergreen) so really doesn't meet your criteria but it's way better behaved. There are also some wonderful cultivars of Hydrangea quercifolia that would give you some of what you are looking for (huge white flowers and fall color) and are easier to control.
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Broadleaved evergreen shrubs tend to be quite amenable to pruning - a wide variety, including the viburnums, are often used as hedging material and so subject to routine pruning or shearing. Depending on when or how often this pruning takes place will have an effect on the flowering of the plant....excessive or frequent pruning tends to limit flowering and lessen the presence of bees. If flowers are present, bees and other pollinators will be as well. I don't grow the obovatum but 'Spring Bouquet' is a very common shrub in my area and I've never seen an issue with aphids. Doesn't have the world's most pleasant fragrance (has been described like 'old sweat sox') when in bloom so that may be a factor to consider. FWIW, I believe the obovatum can grow quite a bit larger than the 4-5' so more pruning may be necessary on this selection than the smaller growing 'Spring Bouquet' (aka 'Compactum').
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Oh my goodness!! That is horrible! Your beautiful tree. I am so sorry. I hope your treatment work, and your tree is restored to its former glory. I was unaware of such a threat to viburnums. kay
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Thanks to the confusion of Common Names, Snowball Bush is used to describe plants from both the Hydrangea and Viburnum Genera. Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' or PeeGee(P.G.) is sometimes called Snowball Bush, but the most common reference to Snowball Bush is to Viburnum species from China (V. macrocephalum), Japan (V. plicatum) and Europe (V. opulus). If they bloom in the spring, they are Viburnum, since the PeeGee (P.G.) Hydrangea blooms later in summer, July-August. It is interesting to note that most gardeners, some with many years experience, cannot distinguish between the Viburnum & Hydrangea flowers (absent foliage). About the only true distinguishing feature is the number of stamen in each floret, 5 in Viburnum, 7-8+ in Hydrangea. Here is a link that might be useful: Snowball Bush
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that is what you do .. it will stay in dormancy.. until the soil warms enough to trigger it ... ma nature is better at taking care of all that ... i hope you took the time to compare my link.. with how you did it .... now is the time to fix it ... ken
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
pruned it smaller to around 5-6 feet

==>>> sara said: cut Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' to the ground frequently,

===>> you want to give it a haircut... but you will cut off all the buds .. sara does rejuvenation pruning .. see link ...

but also keep in mind ... our plants in z5 ... dont quite grow as fast as her balmy CA ... so though shes absolutely correct.. i dont know if i would cut the entire plant back every year .. our season just isnt long enough ... the link below should refer to removing 1/3 of the plant every year.. once it gets going ...

ken

https://www.google.com/search?q=rejuvenation+pruning&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Sara Malone Zone 9b
7 years ago
Actually I don't rejuvenate it - too lazy. I clear-cut it at ground level! That's why it doesn't bloom the year that I coppice it. Heed Ken's points about climatic differences, although I don't give mine much water - I suspect that with humid air and summer rain you might get better growth than I do!

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Choosing between Snowball Viburnums

Comments (4)

Xty G (z4)

Sara Malone Zone 9b

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Sara Malone Zone 9b

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