The Snowball is a deciduous Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a medium rate.
It is a hardy shrub . It is in flower from October to November.
The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Cultivation details
Landscape Uses:Border, Massing, Screen, Specimen.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations.
It prefers a deep rich loamy soil in sun or semi-shade.
Best if given shade from the early morning sun in spring.
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c.
Plants are surface-rooting and are very susceptible to damage by hoeing, drought or water-logging.
A section of top growth will often die back if the roots are damaged, in severe cases this will lead to the death of the plant.
A very beautiful ornamental plant, there are many named varieties.
Plants take about 5 years from planting out before they produce fruit.
Fruit production can be erratic.
Plants are self-incompatible and need to grow close to a genetically distinct plant in the same species in order to produce fruit and fertile seed. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Blooms are very showy.
Propagation
Seed - Germination can be slow, sometimes taking more than 18 months.
Stored seed will require 2 months warm then 3 months cold stratification and can still take 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them in a greenhouse.
Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of soft-wood, early summer and pot up into individual pots once they start to root and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 12 - 15 cm (6 in) long with a heel if possible, July/August in a frame.
Plant them into individual pots as soon as they start to root.
These cuttings can be difficult to overwinter, it is best to keep them in a greenhouse or cold frame until the following spring before planting them out.
They should root in early spring - pot them up when large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Photographs are of a Snowball in my garden, taken with my smartphone.
Source:- https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Viburnum+plicatum
