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Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’ (Doublefile Viburnum)

Japanese snowball 'Summer Snowflake', Doublefile Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', Double File Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', Japanese Snowball Bush 'Summer Snowflake'

AGM Award
Viburnum Plicatum f. Tomentosum 'Summer Snowflake', Japanese snowball 'Summer Snowflake', Doublefile Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', Double File Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake', White flowers

A multi-season beauty, Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’ (Doublefile Viburnum) is a dense, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub of upright habit without equal when it comes to flowering. In late spring, it is almost entirely covered with flat-topped, lacecap-like clusters, 4 in. across (10 cm), packed with large, showy, snow-white flowers. The blooms splayed on the horizontal branches give the plants a wedding cake look when they appear. Flowering continues sporadically through summer and into fall. The blossoms give way to a few egg-shaped, bright red fruits that ripen to black and provide a summer picnic for birds. The deeply-veined, dark green foliage turns burgundy red to purplish red in the fall. A terrific shrub that is understandably one of the most popular of the many viburnums in cultivation. Plant it near an entryway or as an informal screen.

  • Grows with a rounded, dense, spreading habit up to 5-8 ft. tall (150-240 cm) and 8-10 ft. wide (240-300 cm)
  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Thrives in moist loams, but this plant is tolerant of a wide range of soils, provided they are evenly moist. Some drought tolerance once established.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant or in shrub borders, hedges and screens, and foundation plantings.
  • Attractive to birds and butterflies!
  • Low maintenance, this plant has no serious insect or disease problems
  • Prune as required immediately after flowering.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer
  • Fruit can cause a mild stomach upset.
  • Viburnum plicatum species is native to Japan, and China.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Viburnum: How to Grow and Care with Success


Want to learn how to grow and care for Viburnum like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of these striking shrubs.

Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Adoxaceae
Genus Viburnum
Common names Japanese snowball, Doublefile Viburnum, Viburnum
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 5' - 8' (150cm - 240cm)
Spread 8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)
Spacing 96" - 120" (240cm - 3m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’ (European Cranberrybush)
Viburnum odoratissimum (Sweet Viburnum)
Viburnum farreri (Farrer Viburnum)
Viburnum setigerum (Tea Viburnum)
Viburnum ‘Pragense’ (Prague Viburnum)
Viburnum macrocephalum (Chinese Snowball Viburnum)

Recommended Companion Plants

Rhododendron ‘English Roseum’
Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’ (Beautyberry)
Hosta (Tardiana Group) ‘Hadspen Blue’ (Plantain Lily)
Myosotis sylvatica (Wood Forget-Me-Not)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Small Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds
Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
Choosing Your Ideal Hedge: A Guide to Top Shrubs for Any Garden
Add a Splash of Color: Perfect Flowering Shrubs for Small Gardens
35 Flowering Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun
40 Beautiful Native Shrubs for Shade
Viburnum – What Is Wrong With My Shrub?
Viburnum – Pests and Diseases to Watch Out For
Viburnum: How to Grow and Care with Success
10 Creative Ways to Incorporate Viburnum in Your Garden
Why You Should Avoid Growing Invasive Viburnums
Native Viburnums: Ideal Shrubs for Your Garden
Viburnum
Create a Garden with Great Winter Interest
Shrubs and Trees with Colorful Fruits and Berries in Winter
Native Plant Alternatives to Viburnum opulus (European Cranberrybush)
Native Plant Alternatives to Viburnum plicatum (Japanese Snowball)
Native Plant Alternatives to Viburnum dilatatum (Linden Viburnum)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 5 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Adoxaceae
Genus Viburnum
Common names Japanese snowball, Doublefile Viburnum, Viburnum
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 5' - 8' (150cm - 240cm)
Spread 8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)
Spacing 96" - 120" (240cm - 3m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Guides with
Viburnum
Not sure which Viburnum to pick?
Compare Now

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