Ordinary viburnum: plants, care & Co

The common viburnum impresses with its flowers, decorative berries and winter hardiness. It is also a native tree - ideal for a natural garden.

Do you have a suitable location for the common snowball (Viburnum opulus) or common viburnum, the shrub does not require much care. From cultivation and care to propagation and use of this hardy plant - you will find all the important information here.

Common snowball: origin and characteristics

The common viburnum, also known as the common viburnum, is a species of plant in the musk herb family (Adoxaceae). The common snowball originally comes from Europe, North Africa and Western Asia and is widespread in many temperate regions of the world.

The common viburnum is a deciduous shrub that can reach a height of 2 to 4 m. It is characterized by its showy flowers and bright red fruits. The fragrant viburnum flowers appear from May to July in the form of large, spherical umbrella panicles consisting of small, white flowers. The fruits are initially green and later turn red. The three-lobed, toothed leaves of the common viburnum are arranged oppositely and have a beautiful autumn color in various shades of red.

The most beautiful varieties

The genus Viburnum offers a number of other beautiful ones Snowball species, such as this Winter snowball (Viburnum x bodnantense). Here we first present a selection of beautiful varieties of the common viburnum.

• ‘Roseum’ is one of the most popular and well-known varieties with a height of 3 to 4 m. The sterile white flower balls appear a delicate pink as they bloom and give this variant the name double snowball.

• The variety ‘Compactum’ is characterized by its compact growth and reaches a height of 2 m. It is therefore well suited for smaller gardens or as a hedge plant. The flowers, from which red fruits later form, are white and fragrant.

• With the variety ‘Nanum’ it is a dwarf variant of the common viburnum. It remains compact and small, often only around 1 m high, and has a dense growth.
• ‘Notcutt’s Variety’ is characterized by its striking red fruits, which remain on the plant for a long time in autumn and winter. Overall, this variety grows to a height of between 3 and 4 m and has fragrant, white flowers.

Planting common viburnum

The common viburnum prefers to grow on fresh to moist soils and is often found on forest edges, bushes and river banks. In the garden it should therefore be kept in a sunny to partially shaded position. The best time to Viburnum opulus It should be planted in autumn or early spring, when the soil is well moistened and the plant still has enough time to establish itself. Container goods, on the other hand, can be planted all year round. Once you have found a suitable location, it's time to plant:

• Dig a planting hole about twice the size of the plant's root ball.
• If the location tends to be waterlogged, we recommend creating a drainage layer made of gravel or chippings.
• Then place the plant in the planting hole and fill it with soil. Care should be taken to ensure that the root ball is well covered with soil.
• In order to offer the snowball optimal starting conditions, a slow-release fertilizer like ours can be used Plantura organic flower fertilizer incorporated into the soil surface. This supplies the plant with important nutrients for up to 3 months.
• Tamp the soil lightly and water thoroughly to prevent voids from forming around the roots.

Alternatively, you can also cultivate your common viburnum in a bucket. Make sure to choose a sufficiently large planter - about twice the size of the root ball. High-quality and structurally stable plant soil, such as ours, is suitable as a substrate Plantura organic potting soil. This is peat-free and contains expanded clay, which ensures a permeable structure and thus drainage.

The most important care measures

The watering rhythm and the right amount of water for Viburnum opulus depend primarily on the location. Sunny and warm places generally require more water. It is important to regularly check the soil and container substrate for moisture content by pressing firmly on the surface of the soil with your thumb. The optimal time for watering is when the soil surface is slightly dry. Complete drying out of the planting soil should be avoided. In summer, watering should ideally be done early in the morning or evening when there is no direct sunlight on the snowball.

Pruning is not necessarily necessary. However, if you would like to cut your snowball into shape, a topiary can be carried out. This should be done after the flowering period so as not to affect the formation of new flower buds for the next season. Fertilizer can be applied between March and August to support flower formation. It is sufficient to use a long-term fertilizer like our mainly organic one twice a year Plantura organic flower fertilizer to incorporate into the earth. If you have cultivated your viburnum in a bucket, you can use a liquid fertilizer like ours every two weeks Plantura organic flower & balcony fertilizer Easily apply via irrigation water. It is also advisable to repot the plant every 3 years or at the latest when the current pot becomes too small. A sign of this may be that the stability of the plant is no longer guaranteed or that the roots are pushing through the drainage hole.

Is the common viburnum hardy?

Yes, a well-established viburnum is hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to -30°C. Freshly planted trees or those cultivated in pots should be wrapped in fleece or jute and, if necessary, placed against a protective house wall to prevent frost damage.

Propagation

A very simple, promising method, Viburnum opulus To propagate is via cuttings. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Select healthy and semi-woody shoots that are about 10 – 15 cm long.
• Using a sharp knife or secateurs, cut the branches from the mother plant and remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
• Fill growing pots with well-drained growing substrate, like our nutrient-poor growing medium Plantura organic herb & seed soil.
• Insert the cuttings about halfway into the substrate and press it lightly to make good contact with the soil.
• Now the cultivation is watered thoroughly so that the soil is moist but not soggy.
• Place the pots or containers in a warm and bright place with a temperature of around 20°C - but avoid direct sunlight.
• It may take a few weeks to months for the cuttings to form roots.
• If you see the first new leaves, the propagation was successful and the cuttings can be repotted into separate pots with regular potting soil.

Is the common viburnum poisonous?

The common viburnum is classified as slightly poisonous to poisonous. Although the attractive red berries are not particularly appetizing, in Eastern Europe they are often mashed with hot water and honey and used to treat colds. However, consumption in large quantities can lead to vomiting and diarrhea due to the alkaloid lycorine it contains.

The Natural garden in autumn brings plenty of new tasks. In our gardening practice article we have summarized exactly what these are.