PlantFiles: Doublefile Viburnum, Japanese Snowball Bush
Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum

Doublefile viburnum is truly one of the most beautiful species of viburnums, especially where it can be grown well. As has been stated by others here (as well as on numerous forum entries), the plethora of lacecap white or pink blooms marching in pairs down the stems and the iridescent fruit display when an adequate cross-pollinator is provided is difficult to match by most woody shrubs.

The key is to provide relatively even moisture during hot dry periods. If you don't provide supplemental watering then, Doublefile viburnum will turn on you with dogeared foliage and burnt leaf tips that stay with the plant the rest of the summer. That is, if it doesn't just die outright for spite. If you never have that deficiency as a problem, then Doublefile viburnum should knock your socks off through all seasons.

The great flowers, the heavy fruit set, the dark green heavily textured leaves, and the burgundy-pumpkin-red fall color (all hung on the uniquely attractive horizontally stratified branching habit) fulfill basically every desire someone may want or need in a large shrub.

I'm changing my description for this tree but not the rating. It's gotten pretty big this last year and had some flowers on it. Maybe it's slow to flower. More every year. Love it though! Full and green and lush and just looks beautiful!

My neighbor has a whole hedge of these in his backyard. They grow wider (up to 11 feet) than tall (6 feet) with a very horizontal shape, and in full sun in zone 6b. In warmer zones, they may need some shade.

The spring white flowers are lacecap but not fragrant. Fruits following flowers are bright red drupes in Juy, becoming black in August, and birds love them.

Medium growth with moderate moisture in well-drained soil.

Developed by The National Arboretum.

One of the most beautiful flowering shrubs in the plant kingdom. I think of it as the shrub equivalent to the dogwood - possibly prettier. This medium sized, deciduous, multistemmed shrub is native to Japan. It is 8'-10' tall but much wider, which is one of its appeals. The horizontal branching gives it a layered appearance. The flower clusters are up to 4" in diameter composed of showy infertile flowers and unshowy fertile flowers that bloom in May. The fruits are red maturing to black in August and are loved by birds.

The doublefile viburnum should be grown in full sun to partial shade (shade is highly recommended in the southeast as it is prone to leaf scorching in our sun and heat). It prefers moist, well drained soil, but is very adaptable. It is used for shrub borders, flowers, mass plantings, bird attractant, specimen plant, and fall color. If you don't have one and have the room, run - don't walk - to your nearest nursery that has one, buy it, and plant it. One of the most rewarding plants in all of horitculture - if you don't believe me, just look at the pictures.