Friday, June 5, 2015

Minnesota Snowball

There is a shrub (word used loosely) here in Minnesota that all the natives call a Snowball Bush or a Minnesota Snowball.

Snowball bush

This was a photo back on  May  23 2015.   It was in bud.

This towering shrub began as a little stick back around 2000 or maybe 2001. 

Minnesota Snowball Viburnum opulus Roseum

Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’  or Minnesota Snowball.  A very old plant…the settlers must have carted it to Minnesota.  It is a Zone 3 plant/shrub.  It can withstand Minnesota winters and droughts…which is a good thing as I never water it.

Lots of snowballs

This year was a good year for blooms.  Perhaps it was the dry winter…it figured it better bloom before it croaked.  Photos taken on June 4 2015.

Snowball bush quite tall

As you can see it is quite tall…I will guess it is nine feet tall.  I should trim it back some after it is done blooming.  Sometimes the flowers are used as cut flowers but I will just enjoy them on the tree.

Often times this plant gets all confused with the Hydrangeas like ‘Annabelle’ who blooms in late July or early August here in Minnesota.

So now you have seen a Minnesota Snowball in June.

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28 comments:

Cathie said...

I am confused. Last year I bought a "snowball hydrangea" from a nursery. Did they mis-name it?????

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I think it's pretty- I don't see many snowball bushes around here, but I would love to try one and see if I could get it to grow.

Pauline Persing said...

Interesting plant. When I was a child, a neighbor had a hedge of bushes something like your snowball bush. I remember its flowers being greenish most of the time, only white for a few days.

Primitive Stars said...

Morning, I love the plant, such pretty little white snowballs.Blessings Francine.

linda m said...

I have never seen one that tall before. It is very pretty. Thanks for a "snowball" in June. Have a great weekend.

Marty said...

Thank you! I've always called those snowballs, and I guess I wasn't wrong. Still, I always wondered if I should have put them in the hydrangea category. And now I know their proper name.

Anonymous said...

What an amazing flowering bush (tree?). I didn't know they existed but I always had a large snowball bush and loved it.

Shirley H

DJan said...

Pretty, and I certainly hope these are the only snowballs you'll be seeing in Minnesota in June. :-)

Marcy said...

The blossoms look very much like our hydrangeas here in No. Calif., which are already blooming. We need drought resistant right now!

Linda Kay said...

We had one of these in Illinois, and I loved seeing it in bloom.

Intense Guy said...

9 feet is a tall shrub!!! Yes, I can see why the word is used "loosely"!

:)

Far Side of Fifty said...

No I am sure there is a Snowball Hydrangea too it will bloom in July or August.

Georgina said...

I would call that a Viburnum or maybe a Guelder Rose. They can grow very tall in North London if you don't prune them back. We have a wild version growing in the local wood.

Tired Teacher said...

I've seen these bushes at old farmsteads. They are pretty when blooming.

Cynthia said...

Ah, that's the kind of snowballs I like!

Anonymous said...

I love this. I would just enjoy the blooms outside, too. Hope you both have a good day.

Linda W. said...

Very pretty and I love the name!

Shirley said...

I think I wouldn't be able to resist adding them to a bouquet for the kitchen table.

Muffie said...

I've seen that shrub around here, too! Maybe in this area they call it Jersey Snowball!

Red said...

This looks like a very hardy attractive plant.

troutbirder said...

Educational! Apparently "every Minnesotan" (except me) knows this plant) though I do have dozens of Annabelles scattered throughout my oak woods...:)

Sam I Am...... said...

I love those bushes and remember them from when I was a child...that was in Illinois. The pioneers must have dropped some seeds on their way to Minnesota! LOL!

Buttons Thoughts said...

We have one of these in our front lawn it was here when we moved in 36 years ago it is a very pretty hard tree and beautiful. Hug B

Buttons Thoughts said...

that should say Hardy tree:)

L. D. said...

My wife has a cousin that keeps trying to get me to explain the snowball thing. I tell her viburnums are different than hydangea but read the label as I don't really know that much about them. My old fashion hydrangea is budding right now and I had to cut the dead heads off of it for some reason. My viburnum isn't as tall as yours but I think it could be if I didn't keep cutting it back.

Rita said...

Ah! Snowballs! My grandmother had snowball bushes along her house. Minnesota memories. ;)

Terry and Linda said...

YAY! A Snowball in June...I love your flower...I would NOT want a snowball made of snow now. It's cold and raining here.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer

MTWaggin said...

That looks like a shrub I need to have! Love those tough buggers and it looks really pretty when it blooms.