Viburnum opulus sterile
Description
Beautiful yet super easy-to-grow, the Eastern Snowball Bush is known for its full white blooms and rich green foliage that usher in spring. The Snowball’s flowers emerge a striking lime-green in late spring and gradually turn to snowy-white in mid-May, retaining their green color for several weeks before turning to cream and white.
At full maturity, the Eastern Snowball’s blooms are like brilliant white pom-poms, reaching up to 8 inches in width. Plus, you get these huge blooms for weeks at a time. The Eastern Snowball’s clusters resemble the blooms of the Hydrangea but are even easier to grow.
In fact, this particular variety will provide a longer and more profuse season of blooming than any other plant in its family. But despite its staying power and unbelievable beauty, it couldn’t be easier to grow. It can be trimmed to any size or shape, from shrubs and hedges to borders, or even be trained as a tree.
Planting
The Eastern Snowball Bush will perform well in either full sun or partial shade (about 3 to 6 hours of sunlight per day), depending on where you are located. In warmer climates, provide the plant with afternoon shade. In cooler areas, it can take full sun. Dig a hole that is three times the width of the container (the root ball) and just as deep. Place the plant in the hole so that the top of the rootball is even with the soil level. Backfill your soil and water lightly every few inches as you backfill to remove any air pockets. Finally, mulch the surrounding area once planting is complete. If you’re container-planting, select a pot that’s about twice the width of your Snowball’s shipped container, use organic soil, and place your plant in proper sunlight.
Watering
Water your Snowball after the soil has had the chance to dry out about 2 inches down. The frequency will vary depending on your climate and weather conditions. They will need more water during times of excessive heat and drought. However, your Snowball will not need to be watered after it goes dormant for the season or after the ground freezes.
Fertilizing
Generally, the Snowball will not need a lot of additional fertilizer. To increase blooming, you can fertilize in the early spring with a high phosphorus fertilizer like bone meal or bloom booster.
Pruning
Prune the snowball immediately after flowering for shaping and to remove damaged or dead limbs.
| Growing Information | |
| Mature Height: | 12 ft |
| Mature Width: | 10 ft |
| Sunlight: | Full to Partial Sun |
| Bloom Time: | |
| Growth Rate: | Moderate |
| Grows Well in Zones: | 3-8 |
| Your Growing Zone: | 6 |
