Plant · GBIF taxon 2888622
Japanese snowball
Viburnum plicatumAlso known as Doublefile Viburnum, Japanese Snowball Bush
Japanese snowball displays a striking architectural form with layered horizontal branches lined by deeply veined, pleated leaves. In late spring, flower clusters produce dense white blooms resembling snowballs or delicate lacecaps that attract diverse pollinators. As autumn arrives, the dark green foliage transforms into rich shades of burgundy and purple, often accompanied by small red-to-black drupes.
DeciduousFloweringOrnamental
Licensed reference(c) Sandy Wolkenberg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Viburnum Leaf Beetle
- White-tailed Deer
ThreatsViburnum leaf beetle infestation, prolonged drought
HabitatsTemperate forests, mountain slopes, stream banks, gardens
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDipsacales
- FamilyViburnaceae
- GenusViburnum
- SpeciesViburnum plicatum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Pruning: Prune immediately after spring flowering to maintain the distinctive horizontal branch architecture.
- Light Needs: Plant in full sun to partial shade for the most abundant bloom display.
- Identification: Look for pleated, deeply-grooved leaves arranged in opposing pairs along flat branches.
Herbivore (c) Céline, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Lestat (Jan Mehlich) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Radio Tonreg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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