Doublefile Viburnum

Doublefile viburnum (Japanese snowball) is a deciduous shrub from Japan, China, and Taiwan reaching 8-15 ft with dense, spreading growth. It produces white flowers in spring with showy or non-showy forms depending on variety, and displays purple-burgundy fall color.

Doublefile viburnum is hardy in zones 5a-8b and grows in sun to part shade with moist to well-drained soil (pH 6.0-8.0). Growth is rapid with low maintenance. Flowers vary by cultivar from sterile (snowball types) to fertile forms. It attracts butterflies.

Doublefile viburnum is one of the most architecturally dramatic shrubs available for Puget Sound landscapes. The horizontal tiered branching pattern displays white lacecap flowers along the upper surface of each branch, creating a layered wedding-cake effect in spring (353 GDD base 50 for 10% bloom). Growth is rapid and the plant reaches 8-15 feet with an 18-foot spread, so give it room. Purple-burgundy fall color is reliable. The plant prefers moist, well-drained soil; most lowland soils work if not waterlogged. ‘Mariesii’ is the classic cultivar with the most pronounced horizontal form. ‘Summer Snowflake’ reblooms sporadically through summer. Limited disease and pest data in our system suggests this is a relatively clean plant locally, but it has weed potential through self-seeding.

— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist