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Snowballs do well in Southern landscapes
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - April 7, 2003

The recent frigid weather was very tough on most early-planted, warm season vegetables like pepper, snap bean, squash and tomato. Unless these were protected with plastic sheeting or Styrofoam cups replanting is probably necessary. The last time I remember weather that cold this late in the year was on March 13, 1993. That day, we had a snowball fight in mid-March in south Mississippi!

Although we have not seen snow in our part of the country we have had "snowballs" that rival the best in the land. Of course, I am not referring to the wet stuff but rather to the huge flowers of the Chinese Snowball Viburnum.

When the Chinese Snowball Viburnum flowers break forth in the landscape it is absolutely time to get out the camera. People driving by will stop and want to know what kind of plant this is and how they might get one for their place. I really mean it, there are few plants with flowers this big and this white and so seldom seen that first timers nearly run off the road to get a glimpse! These grandiose "snowballs" are actually made of many smaller florets that together comprise one of the largest and most spectacular flowers in the landscape. With hundreds of "snowballs" on each tree there is quite a display that typically remains for a couple of weeks. And, if the weather is favorable, additional flowering may occur again in the fall.

Chinese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum 'Sterile') is one of many Viburnum that grow well in Southern landscapes. Some like Arrowwood and Swamp Viburnum are native to the U.S. while others like the Chinese Snowball are imports from places like India, Japan, China and the Mediterranean region. Even so, the Chinese Snowball is well adapted to our Southern climate where it forms a huge, rounded shrub that may reach over 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide! It is semi-evergreen and the flowers are sterile which mean this plant doesn't make a lot of trash and unwanted seedlings don't pop up all around its base.

When selecting a location for the Chinese Snowball Viburnum, consider placing it in sun or part shade with good drainage and good soil fertility. It prefers medium to high moisture rather than dry and sandy. Given the right location, adequate moisture and fertility, it will grow vigorously as a specimen or accent plant. It would also be a great addition to a large-scale shrub border. Containerized Chinese Snowball shrubs may be planted any time of the year. Check your local garden center for this one while supplies last!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.