Viburnum

What are Viburnum?

This large group of flowering shrubs bloom profusely in spring. Generally the bloom clusters are pure white, but some varieties have lovely hints of pink. The flowers can be quite different, some being fragrant and others having no scent at all. There are evergreen Viburnum varieties and deciduous varieties. The leaves vary by type and many Viburnums have exciting berries in blues, purples, and reds. Deciduous Viburnums have vibrant fall colors. There are large almost tree like viburnum and dwarf viburnum. These plants are low maintenance, deer, pest, and disease resistant, and attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

When to Prune Viburnum

Prune right after blooms are spent in late spring or early summer to avoid removing next year’s blooms. Viburnum plants are old wood bloomers. This means waiting too long in the season to prune can remove flower buds and losing a year of blooms.

How to Prune Snowball Viburnum

Pruning Viburnum isn’t necessary. However, if pruning is desired for size or shape control, shear or trim these bushes after flowering. Rejuvenation pruning can be performed on old, overgrown plants. If your bush is large and overgrown prune it back by ⅓ yearly until it is the size you want. If it is overgrown and dense with a lot of crossed and touching branches, prune back ⅓ of the oldest branches to the ground to open up your plant. Remove dead or broken branches when you notice them.

How to Care for Viburnum

Plant Viburnums in full sun to part shade and well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Water deeply 2 to 3 times per week when newly planted during establishment. These flowering shrubs are drought tolerant once established. Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring for best growth and blooms. Viburnums do not require pruning, but tolerate it well.

How Fast do Viburnum Grow?

These flowering plants are moderate to fast growing. Snowball Bushes grow 1 to 2 feet per year. Most Viburnums grow from 1 to more than 2 feet per year, but dwarf varieties will grow slower. These bushes tend to grow slower in cool climates and faster in warm regions.

How to Plant Viburnum

Begin by digging a hole twice the width of the root ball and not quite as deep as the root ball is tall. Place your bush evenly in the hole. The top of the root ball should be slightly higher than the soil line. Next, backfill with the soil you originally removed. Water deeply until the soil is saturated. Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch in a mound around your plant.

Featured Viburnum Varieties

Chinese Snowball Bush

Viburnum macrocephalum ‘Sterile'

Growing Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9

Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade

Mature Height: 10-15 feet

Mature Width: 10-15 feet

The Chinese Snowball Bush is a reblooming variety of Viburnum with rounded white flower clusters similar to a hydrangea. A heavy bloomer that flowers in spring and again in the summer, this Snowball Bush is one showy shrub. This variety is sterile and does not produce berries.

Common Snowball Bush

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'

Growing Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade

Mature Height: 10-15 feet

Mature Width: 10-15 feet

The Common Snowball Bush is the most cold hardy of the Snowball Bushes. This variety does not produce fruit and is non-invasive. This bush flowers heavily in late spring into summer. These flowers make lovely cut flowers to bring the beauty indoors. This large plant makes a lovely focal or hedge and looks fabulous in groups of 3.

Japanese Snowball Bush

Viburnum plicatum

Growing Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8

Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade

Mature Height: 10-15 feet

Mature Width: 10-15 feet

These fruitless Snowball Viburnums are not messy or invasive. Enjoy loads of white pom-pom flowers even in shady spots. This large shrub is stunning in the landscape and can be trained into a tree from for a more formal look. This Snowball Bush makes a stunning specimen shrub as well as a gorgeous Viburnum hedge or screen.

Spring Bouquet Viburnum

Viburnum tinus ‘Spring Bouquet’

Growing Zones 7, 8, 9

Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade

Mature Height: 5-6 feet

Mature Width: 3-4 feet

This evergreen flowering bush offers year-round interest. You will love watching delicate white-pink fragrant flowers emerge from pretty pink buds in spring. After the blooms fade, lavender blue berries appear. Birds enjoy the berries and butterflies and hummingbirds love the honey-scented blooms. This Viburnum shrub is lovely in mixed beds, foundation plantings, and hedges.

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What are Viburnum?

When to Prune Viburnum

How to Prune Snowball Viburnum

How to Care for Viburnum

How Fast do Viburnum Grow?

How to Plant Viburnum

Featured Viburnum Varieties