Evergreen Pillow Snowball, Viburnum davidii

The evergreen pillow viburnum or Viburnum davidii originally comes from western China. It is a dwarf shrub, the shoots of which are dense and regularly branched and spread horizontally up to the ground. From May to June you can enjoy the white umbels with a pink tinge and a delicious scent. In addition, the plant forms blue-ripened stone fruits in September, which are nice to look at, but not edible. Comprehensive care instructions for the pillow snowball!

care

The evergreen pillow viburnum is a dwarf shrub that usually reaches a height of around 50 to 80 centimeters and a width of 80 to 100 centimeters. In old age, the plant is often twice as wide as it is tall, which gives it a compact, rounded to flat-spherical shape. Under particularly favorable conditions, the shrub can also grow significantly higher. For example, there are specimens on the island of Mainau that are around 170 centimeters high and four meters wide.

The shoots of the shrub spread horizontally and are partly on the ground. They are very dense and branched irregularly. Furthermore, the shoots are thin and covered with warts. The pillow snowball is considered to be slow growing.

The toothed leaves of the plant are evergreen and arranged opposite one another. With a length of seven to 15 centimeters and a width of up to eight centimeters, they appear relatively large. In addition, the leaves are characterized by their dark green color, elliptical shape, rough leatheriness and the three main veins. The latter are noticeably deep and run almost parallel. In general, the foliage of the pillow snowball is perceived as very decorative.

The white flowers of the plant have a delicate pink shimmer and have a distinctive, pleasant scent. They come in the form of umbels about eight centimeters wide. The single flower is tubular and about four millimeters wide. An evergreen pillow snowball blooms from May to June. Finally, in September, blue-ripened stone fruits adorn the shrub. They are egg-shaped, metallic and about six millimeters long.

Caution: The poisonous fruits (as well as all other parts of the plant) cannot be consumed!

Location

The pillow snowball prefers a shady to partially shaded location. It would like to be placed protected from drying winds and the morning winter sun. The dwarf shrub should not be expected to be exposed to too much (intensive) sunlight. Otherwise there is a risk of burn marks forming.

floor

As far as the soil is concerned, the plant is comparatively undemanding. She is easily satisfied with a moderately dry to fresh subsurface, which also provides enough nutrients and is humic. Incidentally, this also applies to keeping in the bucket.

Normal - slightly acidic to low-lime - garden soil that does not tend to over-water is sufficient. If you want to make your pillow snowball happy, let it thrive on a permeable clay soil.

Tip: The permeability of the soil can be maintained and promoted through regular mulching. As a result, water and nutrients reach the roots of the plant more quickly. An evergreen pillow snowball adapts well to the prevailing pH value.

plants

The desired type of cultivation decides when it is best to plant the Viburnum davidii.

•  Planter - possible all year round
•  Outdoors - ideally in autumn

Pillow snowball in the planter

• Select a stable bucket
• Apply drainage made of porous material

Tip: Pebbles, potsherds, expanded clay and lava chippings have proven themselves.

• Fill the bucket two-thirds full with substrate
• Insert the plant and press the substrate lightly into place
• pour vigorously

Pillow snowball in the open air

• Put the plant in a 24-hour water bath
• Substrate of weed and free old roots
• Dig the planting hole

Tip: The planting hole must be about a third larger than the root ball of the plant.

• Mix the excavated earth with humus and, if necessary, with pebbles
• Insert the plant up to the upper root neck
• Refill the substrate and carefully press it into place
• pour vigorously

Important: It is essential to keep a minimum distance of 1.5 to three meters from walls and other plants. This is the only way to ensure that the evergreen pillow snowball can unfold optimally and shine in all its bloom.

to water

The pillow snowball cannot cope with excessive dryness any more than with waterlogging. Here are some tips that you should definitely pay attention to when watering the plant.

• you can leave older pillow snowballs to their own devices for a short time on hot summer days, however, such an approach may have a negative effect on the training of the Blossoms from
• The substrate of a young, freshly planted pillow snowball should be kept moderately moist over the long term, as soon as the top layer of soil is noticeably dry, it must be replenished
• As with all evergreen plants, the root ball of Viburnum davidii must neither be in the warm nor in the dry out in the cold season, so it is advisable to cover it with lukewarm water on frost-free winter days to water

In general: It is better to water less, but more thoroughly and penetratingly. This encourages the plant roots to penetrate deeper soil layers. This in turn ensures that the pillow snowball survives dry periods better.

Fertilize

It is best to use a slow release fertilizer in spring. This has the advantage of releasing nutrients slowly and continuously. This means that the plant is evenly supplied with what it needs over a longer period of time.

Tip: Compost, coffee grounds or horn shavings can also be used outdoors. The selected material is simply carefully worked into the soil once in early spring and once in late summer.

And anyone who creates a thick layer of bark mulch kills two birds with one stone: the growth of unpleasant plants is prevented and the soil is supplied with important substances.

Cut

In fact, pruning the pillow snowball can have a negative effect on its growth habit. In this respect, cutting is rather counterproductive. However, if a clearing cut is necessary, it is best to do this immediately after flowering.

Even the sturdy pillow snowball is not entirely resistant to severe frost. Freezing cold can affect the plant and cause damage. Dead shoots are then cut down to the living tissue in spring.

Tip: You can find out easily and reliably with the "fingernail test" whether there is still life in the evergreen pillow snowball. Just scratch the bark a little bit. If the underlying cambium is green, there is nothing to worry about. In contrast, brown color indicates lifelessness.

Overwinter

The pillow snowball is hardy. This means that it can remain outdoors during the cool season without hesitation. However, it is advisable to apply a protective layer of compost, brushwood or bark mulch.

Important: Even if the plant can overwinter outside, it must of course still be supplied with water.

Multiply

Like all evergreen Viburnum species, the Viburnum davidii is propagated via woody cuttings. For this purpose, cut several shoots with a length of about ten centimeters by October. The roots are formed at around 20 degrees Celsius room temperature.

Here is a quick overview of the procedure:

• remove all lower pairs of leaves
• Put two thirds of the cuttings in poor substrate
• place in a bright but not sunny location
• Keep the soil sufficiently moist

As soon as the first fresh shoot and leaf tips appear, the cuttings are transferred to "normal" substrate.

Tip: Do not lose patience when rooting and always cut several cuttings.

Diseases

Diseases and Pests

The number one pest is the aphid. She loves the evergreen pillow snowball. Sometimes flocks of aphids sit on the plant, which sometimes leads to a complete failure of the flower.

Leaf beetles are also interested in the shrub. The first signs of an insect infestation are often stunted leaf tips. The best way to counteract the pests is with suitable insecticides.

Tip: Those who prefer the natural way of combating pests simply settle in beneficial insects such as ladybirds or lacewings. Among other things, they eat aphids.

Brown leaves with a fairly hard consistency are a not uncommon problem. They indicate a wilted fungus. In this case, it is advisable to first cut through one or two branches and check whether there is still green in them.

If this is the case, proceed as follows:

• remove brown leaves
• Cut back the shrub generously

Important: Do not dispose of the cut shoots on the compost. Otherwise it can happen that other plants come into contact with the germs.

If only brown remains after the test pruning, there is no other option than to give the plant away. The fungal attack is then too advanced. If an evergreen pillow snowball is afflicted by diseases such as fungal infections, it is often a sign of inadequate or incorrect care. Accordingly, in the event of problems, you should always check your own measures and adjust them if necessary.