Japanese snowball, Snowball Viburnum
Viburnum plicatum

Family: Adoxaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 2.5-3.7 m tall and spreading 3-4.5 m wide. The branches are horizontal. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves appear to be pleated. The leaves are opposite and broadly oval. They are 4-12 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The flowers occur in heads. They are yellow to white. The fruit is oval and red but turn black as they ripen. They are 5-7 mm long by 3-4 mm wide.

There are about 150 Viburnum species. Also put in the family Caprifoliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. In southern China it grows between 200-3,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. Arboretum Tasmania. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, China (country/location of origin), Japan (country/location of origin), North America, Taiwan, Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Xueqiu

Synonyms

Viburnum plicatum var. dilatatum Lindl.; and others