Questions about Snowball Viburnum 'Roseum'

7 years ago

All the images I find online are of this shrub in full bloom. Can someone tell me about this shrub at other times of the year, or, better yet, share some photos?

- after the height of bloom, what do the flowers look like? Are they just brown and dead looking until they turn to berries? If so, how long are they in this stage?

- the tag at the nursery for this plant says it has great red fall color. Is this really the case?

- what do the berries look like? Are they persistent on the shrub through the winter? Do birds eat the berries?

- do I have to train this into a tree or can I leave it as a shrub? Does it become leggy anyway if not pruned to a tree?

- what is the life span of these shrubs? Assuming the viburnum leaf beetle doesn't get to it first?

Thanks folks!

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Comments (5)

Sara Malone Zone 9b
7 years ago
After bloom, not much trace of blossoms. No berries (it's sterile, which is one of its strong points). Fabulous fall color here (zone 9b; you will have to ensure same where you are, but I suspect it will also have fabulous color in most other places). During summer months it is a large, lush, green shrub. You can leave it as a shrub and either let it get huge or cut it down periodically (which I do). Viburnum can be pruned into a multi-trunk tree with patience and diligence but this one doesn't work very well as the branches are not really strong enough.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
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
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I have one of these lovely shrubs, and recently looked your question up in the AHS Encyclopedia. For deciduous viburnums, prune immediately after flowering.
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Don't expect pollination from the Roseum. Even if there is pollen in there somewhere, and I don't think there is, it isn't accessible and it doesn't attract insects.
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I have a Viburnum opulus 'Stirilis' that was planted in the ground in 2004 from a 3 gallon pot. It is now nearly as wide as my outstretched arms and several feet taller than I am. I needed a fast growing plant (to help block a very larger wood playscape with "curb edge" gold trim) that could tolerate my heavy almost always very moist soil. When in bloom the heavily laden branches always droop downward somewhat and when the pompoms start to fade in a week or two there is a shower of petals whenever a branch is touched, just as your 'Rosebud' is doing. If there is no hard rain or a lot of wind the pompoms stay for a little longer. However, once they are gone that's it for the plant until fall, just a healthy green shrub. Stirilis does not fruit & only has so so fall color, nor does it have the sweet scent of my other viburnums. But it is a very nice privacy screen and quite a winner when in bloom. BTW, does Redbud have a colored bloom or bud? Any fruit? Good fall color? I have a spot for another one!
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Have you considered a oakleaf hydrangea? I have 6 of them and they do well here in the Norman area. Some get a couple hours morning sun, some get filtered sun for a few hours mid-day and one only gets bright shade. Each of them have great flowering and are beautiful shrubs. They have great fall coloring as well. These are panicle blooms rather than the big snowballs. I do have one that is in sun for several hours in the afternoon (due to losing a shade tree in the ice storm) and it is very unhappy. I hope it holds on until the shade tree rebounds. With that said, I do have 2 Endless Summer Hydrangeas. I put them in large pots temporarily as I had no idea where to place them. Now one of them is in the ground. They have been getting sun from about 9:00-2:00 and have done well. The one I put in the ground doesn't get as much sun and isn't blooming as well as the other. The nice thing about the ES hydrangeas is they bloom all summer rather than a blast early. They come in several colors. I have Bride (something) and it the flowers are white with a hint of pink as they age. With the clay I have here (which has been amended endlessly for years) I always raise my shrubs. I just dig the hole about half to 2\3 of the height of the pot and then with good soil I just build up the area to the top of the root ball and then use rocks or bricks to hold the soil in place. For a large Oakleaf the rock is about 2 feet out from the trunk. I have added a bunch of info here as I am happy to get to answer something for a change. I lurk and learn here mostly. lol Try this site for info on the different types of hydrangeas. Here is a link that might be useful: All about hydrangeas
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Sara Malone Zone 9b
7 years ago
That variegated foliage is gorgeous - never seen one of those! I plant V. o. 'Roseum' for fall color. The bloom here is stupendous - the shrubs are covered with huge white balls (I prefer them in the chartreuse green stage) but does not last more than a few weeks. Visitors gawk at them but they are a bit overdone for my taste. I plant blue conifers near this shrub as the blue/orange combo in autumn is drop-dead beautiful.
Xty G (z4)
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks for your comments! I am trying to decide between this and a viburnum trilobum 'Wentworth.' I will be planting it for the white flowers, green mass in summer, and fall color. Berries and scent would be a bonus, but not necessary. I would love a Mohawk, but I think it is only hardy to zone 5. I am in zone 4b.

I also need the 8' to 12' height which both offer.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
7 years ago
I don't know 'Wentworth' but my Viburnum trilobum have great fall color.
Xty G (z4) thanked Sara Malone Zone 9b

Questions about Snowball Viburnum 'Roseum'

Comments (5)

Sara Malone Zone 9b

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Xty G (z4)
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Questions about Snowball Viburnum 'Roseum'

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Sara Malone Zone 9b

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Sara Malone Zone 9b

Xty G (z4)Original Author

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