Common Snowball, European Snowball, Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)
The Common Snowball or European Snowball or Guelder Rose is a fast-growing bush growing up to 4m in height. White cymes from May onwards are of particular ornamental value. Brilliantly shiny red stone fruit. Yellow or wine-red autumn colouring. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
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Appearance
The Common Snowball or European Snowball or Guelder Rose is a fast-growing bush growing up to 4m in height. White cymes from May onwards are of particular ornamental value. Brilliantly shiny red stone fruit. Yellow or wine-red autumn colouring. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
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Leaf upperside
Ovate to broadly ovate, palmately lobed (3-5 lobes) leaves, decussate, with pointed tip, serrated edge and cut to broadly wedge-shaped base. Leaves are green above, pale green and moderately hairy below. With white-yellow edging on both sides. 8-12cm long and 6-10cm wide, leaf stem 2-3cm long.
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Leaf underside
Ovate to broadly ovate, palmately lobed (3-5 lobes) leaves, decussate, with pointed tip, serrated edge and cut to broadly wedge-shaped base. Leaves are green above, pale green and moderately hairy below. With white-yellow edging on both sides. 8-12cm long and 6-10cm wide, leaf stem 2-3cm long.
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Flowers
Flowering period V-VI. Pretty white blossoms 0.4-0.5cm wide. The cymes are 8-10cm wide and of particular ornamental value.
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Fruits
Brilliantly shiny red stone fruit, round shape, 1cm in diameter. The pretty fruits ripen in August and often persist throughout the winter. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
Poisonousness
It is mainly the bark that is toxic. There is no evidence that the leaves and fruit are toxic. Consumption of toxic parts of the plant may lead to gastrointestinal complaints with nausea, feeling of sickness and diarrhoea. Not normally associated with serious symptoms of poisoning.
Application
Motorway embankments, central motorway reservations, flowering bush, soil-cover, orchards, large bush, for planting in groups, landscaping
Native regions
Europe, Central Asia, Caucasian countries
Location parameters
Light: sunny to semi-shady; soil type: sandy-loamy to clayey; nutrient concentration: normal to high; pH value of the soil: acid to alkaline; soil: fresh to very moist.
Demands
Plants are attacked by lice in dry and hot locations; very fume-hardy, tolerates urban climates; wind-resistant, very frost-hardy; intolerant of salt; undemanding plant, fragrant; subject to attack by plant aphids; tolerates slightly alkaline soil; leaves drop in late summer when planted in hot and dry locations. Light: sun to half-shade.
Growth
3 - 4m high, 2-4m in diameter
Leaves
Ovate to broadly ovate, palmately lobed (3-5 lobes) leaves, decussate, with pointed tip, serrated edge and cut to broadly wedge-shaped base. Leaves are green above, pale green and moderately hairy below. With white-yellow edging on both sides. 8-12cm long and 6-10cm wide, leaf stem 2-3cm long.
Flowers
Flowering period V-VI. Pretty white blossoms 0.4-0.5cm wide. The cymes are 8-10cm wide and of particular ornamental value.
Fruits
Brilliantly shiny red stone fruit, round shape, 1cm in diameter. The pretty fruits ripen in August and often persist throughout the winter. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
Bark
Pale green or brown bark, smooth when young, with shallow furrows when older. Branches are pale brown or yellowish brown, sometimes tinged with shimmering red, and with longitudinal ribbing on the surface, round cross-section, sometimes also slightly edged.
Roots
Surface-rooting, suckering; forms an intensive, dense network of roots.