Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' (Snowball)

Botanical name

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'

Other names

Whitsuntide boss, Snowball tree, Red snowball tree, Rose elder, Viburnum opulus 'Sterile', Snowball, Red guelder rose

Genus

Viburnum Viburnum

Variety or Cultivar

'Roseum' _ 'Roseum' is a large, bushy, deciduous shrub with lobed, veined, dark green leaves turning red-flushed in autumn and, from late spring into summer, dense, spherical clusters of white flowers, flushed pink with age.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Bushy

Awards

RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)

---

Colour

Flower

White in Spring; Flushed pink, White in Summer

Foliage

Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green, Flushed red in Autumn

---

How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Viburnum beetle , Aphids

Specific diseases

Leaf spot

General care

Pruning

Pruning group 8. Can take hard pruning.

Propagation methods

Semi-hardwood cuttings, Softwood cuttings

---

Monthly care advice

---

Where to grow

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' (Snowball) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 5-10 years.

Suggested uses

Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Wildlife

Cultivation

Grow in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil from full sun to full shade. Flowers are sterile so this cultivar does not produce fruit or set seed.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' (Snowball)

Common pest name

Ramorum leaf blight; Ramorum shoot dieback; Rhododendron twig blight; Sudden oak death

Scientific pest name

Phytophthora ramorum

Type

Oomycete

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Pathogen of larch and other hosts subject to EU emergency legislation. A containment strategy is in place in the UK; reflecting its presence in wider environment/forestry settings in some areas. EU regulatory status is under review.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' (Snowball)

Common pest name

assam thrips; castor thrips; chilli thrips; yellow tea thrips

Scientific pest name

Scirtothrips dorsalis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

EU listed pest for citrus but highly polyphagous and intercepted on a number of hosts. EU legislation should be updated to reflect wider host list.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' (Snowball)

Common pest name

pink wax scale; red was scale; ruby wax scale

Scientific pest name

Ceroplastes rubens

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Based on its biology and low potential impact continued action on this pest in the UK would not be considered appropriate. It is likely to be of more concern to southern Member States of the EU; as it is an economic pest of citrus.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/