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Climber Wall ShrubShrubs

Viburnum macrocephalum 'Sterile'

Chinese snowball 'Sterile'

A large, rounded and dense, semi-evergreen shrub to 4m with dark green, slightly serrated oval leaves. Produces dense trusses of sterile white flowers in late spring. Suitable as a specimen shrub or for training against a wall

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Viburnaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental, not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Viburnum can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with opposite, simple or palmately lobed leaves and clusters of small, often fragrant white or pink flowers, followed by red, blue or black berries
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows well in most moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soils in sun or shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Climber and wall shrubs
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, viburnum beetle, viburnum whitefly and viburnum scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to Phytophthora, honey fungus, grey moulds and leaf spot

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