Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum
Japanese Snowball Viburnum

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
White (Snowball flowers appearing in spring are pendulous and have no fragrance)
 Foliage Notes:
Dark green, broad-ovate shape
 Stem Notes:
Dark gray or brownish, orangish lenticels.
 Fruit Notes:
Bright red drupes
 Ultimate Height:
8-10 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
9-12 feet
 Soil Notes:
Prefers moist, well-drained soil and does not tolerate drought or heavy clay, poorly drained soils
 Range:
China, Japan
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves opposite, simple 2-4" long, half as wide, ovate, coarsely serrate, pubescent underneath, with impressed veins. Buds are naked. Young stems are tomentose. Flowers are all sterile (no fruits produced) and the clusters resemble snowballs (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum has flat-topped cymes of sterile and fertile flowers).

Additional Information

Relatively trouble-free plant. Unlike the Doublefile Viburnum (V. plicatum f. tomentosum), this species is sterile so it produces no fruit. One of the least drought tolerant of the Viburnums (may show leaf margin necrosis from drought in late summer). Prune on a 3-year cycle to maintain form, and never shear. Remove upright growing branches to accentuate horizontal character. Possibly the most elegant of flowering shrubs a choice specimen when placed near red.

When Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
No Fruiting Observations Available

3 Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum found

Building Map...

Loading...
= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
12012_00661*ASTEW
22010_04140*AERHT
32009_02286*AYONG

Other plants like this Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum (Japanese Snowball Viburnum)

The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
© 2025 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us