Snowball bush and hydrangea are often confused. Both are small deciduous shrubs that look very similar. However, there are many differences that can help you stand out.
The snowball shrub is a member of the Viburnum opulus plant genus found in Europe and western and southern Asia. It gets its name from the beautiful white flowers it produces in the spring.
This huge and diverse group includes more than 150 species of plants. Most have dull, glossy green foliage with a contrasting pale underside. However, there are some varieties with dotted and mottled leaves.
The hydrangea is also very similar to the snowball bush. The word hydrangea is a Greek word and means “vessel of water”.
The old name, Hortense, is a French word given in honor of a French astronomer, Nicole-Reine Hortense Lepaute. There are many different varieties, each producing uniquely colored flower heads in the spring.
Let’s dig in and see the main differences between the two plants.
The hydrangea grows well in partial shade, but can grow in full sun with extra care, while the snowball bush grows naturally in full sun to partial shade.
Hydrangea is a low maintenance plant while snowball bush is susceptible to many organisms such as bacteria, fungi, pests and nematodes.
Snowball bush vs hydrangea: what is its appearance and structure
A hydrangea can reach 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. The branches grow loosely and widely spaced.
It has toothed leaves and shallow veins. It blooms from June to September and the flowers have different colors.
While a snowball bush is known for its large white flowers. Initially the color of the flower is apple green, then it turns white and finally pink.
It is a fast growing shrub with a dark emerald green color. This cluster of 3 inch flowers is followed by red berries that ripen to black.
The leaves of the snowball bush turn orange-red in the fall, making it a perfect specimen plant for spring or fall. It reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet and a width of 6 to 12 feet at maturity.
Snowball Shrub vs Hydrangeas – What Are They? Preference growing conditions
Hydrangea
Needs nutritionally well-drained soil with moderate watering every few weeks. The hydrangea grows best in partial shade and can also grow in full sun with regular watering. It does not tolerate drought.
During the winter season there is loss of leaves and in extreme winters the plant may die. It should be pruned to the ground in late winters, both to promote regrowth and strong stem growth, and to remove weaker stems.
The hydrangea makes a good hedge as long as it does not lose its leaves in winter. Looks great in a naturalized woodland garden.
snowball bush
The snowball shrub viburnum grows best in full sun. Six hours of sun a day is enough to produce large masses of flowers. However, a partially shaded location that is consistently warmer is suitable for gardeners to grow it.
This plant prefers loamy, well-drained soil, but you don’t need to be too specific. It can grow in a variety of soil conditions. It can also tolerate different pH ranges, but prefers to grow in acidic soils.
Constant watering of the soil is vital for the plant to reach its full potential. It prefers moist soils. A schedule of 1 inch per week is sufficient.
But in dry, hot conditions, more water is needed. Moisture in the soil can be maintained by mulching around the bush, and this will have the beneficial effect of suppressing weeds.
Snowball bush can tolerate freezing winters in zone 6 and hot summers in zone 8. Anything above or below cannot be tolerated. It can thrive in both dry and wet conditions as long as there is adequate air circulation and soil drainage.
Fertilize the plant in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer. Avoid using fertilizer with excess nitrogen and avoid contact with the bush, as both are harmful.
If you like this article, check out our article on hydrangeas versus rhododendrons.
Snowball Bush vs Hydrangea – Which Pests & Diseases Affect Them?
hydrangeas
The hydrangea is a low-maintenance plant and has no serious diseases. But some diseases are common, including leaf spots, mould, wilt, and pests like aphids, mites, scale insects, and nematodes.
In the presence of favorable growing conditions, if the plant does not grow, it means that the plant is suffering from a disease.
snowball bush
On the other hand, the snowball bush is susceptible to many organisms such as bacteria, fungi, pests and nematodes.
Bacterial leaf spots and powdery mildew are unfavorable conditions for the plant. They are also susceptible to aphids. This is why keeping organic insecticides neem oil should be applied as soon as the disease is confirmed.
The Viburnum crown borer is a xylophagous insect that kills the stem on the ground.
It can destroy the whole plant. A beneficial nematode (Heterohabditis bacteriophora) can be applied as groundwater and prevent the plant from being destroyed by the borer insect.
Chemical pesticides can also be applied to the lower bark, which can prevent the insect from taking hold.
Powdery mildew is an unsightly and deadly fungal disease that produces a white powder on the plant which is the spores.
Allowing maximum air circulation and watering at ground level rather than overhead can prevent disease.
Also remove the dirt around the plant at the end of the season so that it does not overwinter and spread the spores the following spring.
Chemical pesticides should be applied as soon as the disease is diagnosed.
Leaf spots are usually seen in random places, which is a hallmark of a bacterial disease.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this infection, so the diseased plant must be removed. Also get into the habit of regularly cleaning pruning tools.
Snowball Shrub vs Hydrangea – Varieties
Hydrangea
It has many varieties. The most remarkable variety of hydrangea is “Anabelle”.
Other varieties include ‘Sterilis’ (Hydrangea arborescens), which has flatter flower heads and a lacy appearance due to its few showy sterile flowers.
“Green Knight” (Hydrangea arborescens) has round, white flower heads that eventually turn dark green.
There are also varieties depending on the color of the flowers. Both Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea serrata have purple to pink flowers.
The color depends on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Acidic soil gives flowers a blue color, while alkaline soil gives them a pinkish hue.
snowball bush
Here are some closely related viburnum snowball type hybrids:
Cayuga viburnum is a cross between V. carlessi and V. carlcephalum. It has a compact habit (4 to 10 feet tall and wide) and blooms profusely with a cluster of 4 inch white flowers in the spring.
Judd viburnum (V. juddii) is a cross between V. carlessi and V. bitchiunse and is a very attractive shrub that is hardy in zones 4 to 8. It is also resistant to bacterial infection and easy to propagate.
Snowball Bush vs Hydrangea – What is the pruning procedure
Hydrangea
At first, make a small pruning just after flowering to beautify the plant. Cut just below dead flowers with sharp pruners.
Careful pruning is done either in the fall when the shrub goes dormant or in the winter when it begins to show new growth in the spring.
Cut off any diseased or dead parts of the plant with the pruning blade. Then clean the blades with alcohol.
Cut off stems that cross and form an awkward angle. Cut the stems where the two leaves meet.
Rejuvenate the old plant by cutting the old stem to the ground. Removing up to a third of the stem in this manner encourages new growth.
If it is necessary to check the height of the plant, cut the tallest stem down to the ground. You can modify the natural appearance of the plant.
snowball bush
Prune immediately after flowering and prune lightly. It can also be pruned if it is to be used in hedge applications.
When not in use for floral displays, pinch off spent flowers to encourage new growth.
If necessary, this shrub will tolerate severe pruning down to the ground as a means of renewing the plant.
Snowball Shrub vs Hydrangea – spring care
Hydrangea
food: water the hydrangea plant well before and after feeding the plant. Universal fertilizer with a ratio of 10:10:10 is suitable for even growth of roots, foliage and flowers.
If fertile soil favors the development of shrubs, only a low-nitrogen fertilizer with a ratio of 7:9:5 is sufficient for flower growth.
2 cups of fertilizer per 100 square feet is sufficient and should be distributed evenly throughout the soil. Be careful when applying the fertilizer because the fertilizer can burn the bush if it comes in contact with it.
We have an article about it. How to make a natural fertilizer for your hydrangea.
Size: Pruning is done mainly in the spring, regardless of the variety.
Hydrangea because there is no growth in the fall and the plant goes dormant and will not produce new growth until the following spring.
Snowball – plants
Dig a hole as deep as the root, but two to three times wider. Backfill the hole with the removed soil, leaving the root crown 2 inches above ground level. Water the newly planted bush well and mulch it around, about 4 inches deep.
When selecting the location, make sure it has enough space and sunlight. Fertilizing once a year is enough, pruning is optional.
Before you go, here are some other related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
Hydrangeas vs Lilacs
How to Get Rid of Black Spots on Hydrangea Leaves?
Why are the leaves of my hydrangea curling?
Why are my hydrangeas turning green?
About the Author:
sad envy
Saad is an avid gardener and a great lover of plants, animals, photography and people. He currently focuses on indoor plant photography and capturing beautiful landscapes. He also writes and rewrites feature articles on nature and science.