The Snowball tree Viburnum opulus roseum has always been a favourite of mine. Right back to my early childhood, where we used to pick all the flowers from the bush next door, and have a snow ball fight with the neighbouring kids. I am not too sure I would be very happy about children doing that to my own tree these days, but it makes a wonderful memory for me. One that I have always cherished!
This is a lovely tree, which grows to around 3 meters. It is happy to be pruned into any shape you like, even a hedge. It is reasonably quick to grow and will produce those gorgeous "balls" of flowers, starting out green and aging to white, in early spring. It is a sterile plant, so does not produce any fruit, but it's gorgeous blooms more than make up for that! You may want to mulch the base of the plant to protect it from our harsh summers.
Full sun or part shade works best for them and it can adapt to most soil conditions. I have seen them growing in the Adelaide hills and the plains equally well.
It has the added bonus of being heat and drought tolerant, ( a big tick of approval from me ) and does not suffer from many pests or diseases. It can be prone to attack from aphids, so just keep an eye on them for any infestation and deal with it quickly to prevent further problems. The Snowball tree also attracts the good bugs into the garden, bees and butterflies and is quite the show piece when in full bloom. Cut it back when it has finished its display, or pick the big flowers, which can resemble the hydrangea clusters, to brighten up your home.
No comments:
Post a Comment