Snowball Viburnum Viburnum plicatum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum
- Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum
- Description
-
Doublefile viburnum is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub that is commonly found in the landscape. This shrub is native to China and Japan and grows 8 to 10 feet tall and as wide. It is multi-stemmed and has horizontal branching giving a layered appearance. The white flowers in spring are showy cymes followed by red to black fruit the birds love. Fall leaf color is red to purple. It grows well in sun to part shade and is adaptable to soil types. Prune as needed after flowering. Next season's blossoms will appear on new growth.
Showy blooms occur 'double-file', in axils of leaves with one on each side of a node on horizontal branches in late spring. The lace-capped flowerhead has showy sterile flowers that encircle non-showy inner fertile flowers. It is easily identified by its leaves which are ovate, pubescent, and appear pleated with serrate margins. The pleats are comprised of nearly straight, impressed veins.
Plant in moist well-drained soil with mulch around the roots to keep them cool and moist. Tolerates full sun to partial shade. Use as a hedge, as a foundation shrub, in the shrub border, or as a specimen. This shrub is easily transplanted.
Quick ID Hints:
- Opposite, ovate, pleated, pubescent, serrate, leaves
- Axillary, late spring blooms on each side of nodes
- lace-capped flowerhead with small fertile flowers that are ringed by showy sterile ones
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or insect issues.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Fireworks'
- 'Mariesii'
Distinctively layered horizontal branching. - 'Mary Milton'
Less invasive than other varieties - 'Molly Schroeder'
- 'Shasta'
Matures at 6-8 feet by 10-12 feet - 'Spellbound'
Compact and multi-stemmed - 'Summer Stars'
- 'Trizam'
5' to 6' - 'Watanabe'
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Fireworks', 'Mariesii', 'Mary Milton', 'Molly Schroeder', 'Shasta', 'Spellbound', 'Summer Stars', 'Trizam', 'Watanabe'
- Tags:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Mariesii'
Distinctively layered horizontal branching. - 'Mary Milton'
Less invasive than other varieties - 'Molly Schroeder'
- 'Shasta'
Matures at 6-8 feet by 10-12 feet - 'Spellbound'
Compact and multi-stemmed - 'Summer Stars'
- 'Trizam'
5' to 6' - 'Watanabe'
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Fireworks', 'Mariesii', 'Mary Milton', 'Molly Schroeder', 'Shasta', 'Spellbound', 'Summer Stars', 'Trizam', 'Watanabe'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- plicatum
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Commonly used as a hedge.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Japan, Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Frequently visited by butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- The egg-shaped fruits are fleshy.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Depending on the variety, the flowers can be showy or non-showy, fragrant or non-fragrant, with or without fruits, and fertile or non-fertile.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The dark green leaves have a pleated upper surface and are deeply veined.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark of an adult plant can be ridged or pleated, also thin and smooth.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Multi-stemmed.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Weedy
