Viburnum macrocephalum

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese snowball

Other common names

绣球荚蒾 (xiù qiú jiá mi), large-flowered snowball tree

Synonyms

Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri

Shrubs

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A large, dense, rounded, semi-evergreen shrub to 4m with shiny, dark green, oval leaves. Produces huge trusses of sterile florets in late spring, opening lime green and maturing to pure white

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Viburnaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamentalnot to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Viburnum can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with opposite, simple or palmately lobed leaves and clusters of small, often fragrant white or pink flowers, followed by red, blue or black berries
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows well in most moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils in sun or shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, viburnum beetle, viburnum whitefly and viburnum scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to Phytophthora, honey fungus, grey moulds and leaf spot