Japanese Snowball

The Japanese snowball is a large, rounded deciduous shrub in the viburnum (Viburnaceae) family, prized for the rows of round, white “pom-pom” flower clusters that appear along its tiered, horizontal branches in spring. It grows quickly, stays low-maintenance, and forms a dense, multi-stemmed mound that works beautifully as a specimen, a hedge, or a screen.

Through the seasons

In spring the branches are lined with showy white cymes up to a few inches across. The deeply veined, pleated dark-green leaves give it a handsome texture through summer, then shift to rich purple and burgundy tones in fall.

A note on varieties

Two forms are commonly sold:

• Japanese snowball bush — sterile, showy 2–3” snowball-like flower clusters and no fruit.
• Doublefile viburnum — flatter, fertile flower clusters along distinctly tiered branches that can produce small, egg-shaped fruits.

Butterflies and other pollinators visit frequently, especially the fertile forms.

Care tips

Plant it where it has room to spread, in moist but well-drained soil. If you need to prune, do it right after flowering — next year’s blooms form on new growth.

Heads up: Viburnum plicatum is considered invasive in parts of the U.S. If that’s a concern in your area, look for less-aggressive cultivars (such as ‘Mary Milton’) or a native alternative like winterberry (Ilex verticillata) or arrowwood viburnum.