Are snowball viburnum Evergreen?

Snowball Viburnums: Evergreen or Not? Let’s Get to the Bottom of It.

Snowball viburnums. Just the name conjures up images of these gorgeous shrubs, covered in blooms that look like, well, snowballs! They’re a real showstopper in any garden. But here’s a question I get asked all the time: “Are they evergreen?” The answer, like with many things in gardening, is… it depends.

Mostly, you’re looking at a shrub that sheds its leaves. In other words, in most climates, snowball viburnums are deciduous. Come autumn, they put on a bit of a show with some reddish-orange hues before dropping their leaves for the winter. Think of the Eastern Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ or ‘Sterile’). It’s a classic example, happy as can be in zones 4-9, but definitely bare when the snow flies.

Now, things get a little more interesting if you live somewhere warmer. In those milder climates, some snowball viburnums can be a bit sneaky and act semi-evergreen. What does that mean? Basically, they might hold onto some of their leaves through the winter, especially if it’s a mild one. The Chinese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum) is known for this, particularly in zones 6-9. But even then, don’t count on it! Mother Nature can be unpredictable. I’ve seen Chinese Snowballs drop their leaves even in relatively mild winters.

The thing is, “snowball viburnum” is kind of a catch-all term. We’re talking about a few different Viburnum species and varieties here. So, let’s break it down a little:

• Eastern Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ or ‘Sterile’): The OG snowball viburnum. Big, round, classic. Deciduous through and through, and thrives in zones 3-8.
• Chinese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum): This one’s the showoff, with flower heads that can get HUGE – like, up to 8 inches across! Semi-evergreen in warmer spots (zones 6-9), but don’t bet the farm on it.
• Japanese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum): These guys have a cool, pleated leaf thing going on, and the flowers are lovely. But they’re deciduous, plain and simple.

So, what makes a snowball viburnum hold onto its leaves (or not)? A few things:

• Climate, climate, climate: Warmer is better for keeping those leaves on the plant. Colder? Expect bare branches.
• Variety matters: Some are just genetically programmed to be leaf-hoarders more than others.
• Location, location, location: If you can tuck your viburnum into a spot that’s sheltered from those brutal winter winds, it might just hold onto a few more leaves.
• Healthy plants are happy plants: A viburnum that’s thriving is more likely to keep its leaves than one that’s stressed out or just planted.

Now, here’s a little secret: if you really want an evergreen viburnum, there are other options! Forget the “snowball” part and look at these:

• Viburnum davidii
• Viburnum tinus
• Viburnum rhytidophyllum (Leatherleaf Viburnum) – this one’s a real beauty!

These guys are evergreen through and through, no matter what the weather throws at them.

Bottom line? Snowball viburnums are gorgeous, but they’re usually deciduous, especially if you live where it gets cold. The Chinese Snowball might give you a few leaves in warmer areas, but don’t count on it. If you’re dead-set on evergreen foliage, explore some of the other Viburnum species out there. Happy gardening!