Japanese Snowball Viburnum

The Japanese Snowball Viburnum is a classic deciduous garden shrub once more see in many gardens. It grows into a medium-sized to large shrub perfect for the back of beds and for filling corners, with its spread of 10 to 15 feet being matched by the same height. It can be kept shorter with pruning, if needed. The handsome dark-green leaves have an elegant look, and the cover the branches, which tend to grow horizontally, giving a tiered look to the plant. In fall they turn bold shades of red and burgundy, leaving the light-gray branches for winter interest. In late spring the branches are festooned with 3-inch diameter balls of pure-white flowers, bringing a gorgeous classic look to your garden. Grow it in foundation planting around your home, out in beds, or in informal woodland settings.

• Round balls of snow-white flowers in late spring
• Elegant dark-green leaves turn red and burgundy in fall
• Attractive horizontal branching structure to about 12 feet across
• Excellent in both formal settings and natural woodlands
• Immune to the destructive viburnum leaf beetle

Plant the Japanese Snowball Viburnum in full sun or with partial shade, protected from hot afternoon sun. It grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soil that is acid or neutral, but established plants have reasonable drought tolerance. Untouched by the nasty viburnum leaf beetle, and generally free of pests or diseases. Some pruning after flowering can be used to encourage its attractive horizontal branching structure.