Japanese Snowball
Japanese snowball is utilized as an ornamental species and can escape cultivation via bird and animal dispersed seeds. Dense thickets crowd and shade out native vegetation. These dense thickets can also increase sedimentation rates along waterways.
Common Name: Japanese snowball
Scientific Name: Viburnum plicatum
Native Range: Temperate Asia
Background
Japanese snowball is an invasive viburnum that has both a cultivated and wild form. The cultivated form is infertile and was created to be an ornamental plant. The wild form was later discovered by scientists. It’s flowers are similar but they lack the namesake snowball-like arrangement.
Habitat
Japanese snowball can grow in full sun to partial shade and can be found invading both disturbed habitats such as roadsides, and natural areas such as riparian areas, forest edges and interiors, and shrublands.
NYS Distribution Map
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Identification
Japanese snowball is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15 feet tall and wide. Leaves are simple, opposite, and oval shaped with serrated edges. There are distinct veins on top of the leaves that run from the midrib to the edge. Leaves turn a deep reddish-purple color in the fall. Flowers occur as white clusters in mid-spring, with small fruits ripening from red to black as summer progresses.
Impact
Japanese snowball is utilized as an ornamental species and can escape cultivation via bird and animal dispersed seeds. Dense thickets crowd and shade out native vegetation. These dense thickets can also increase sedimentation rates along waterways.
Prevention and Control
Mechanical
Small plants can be removed with a shovel or weed wrench. The entire root system must be removed to prevent resprouting. Remove plants before fruit production to minimize additional spread.
Chemical
Selective herbicide applications can be used to control larger individuals or infestations.
Herbicides can be applied as a foliar spray or cut stem application. For best results, treatments should be performed during periods of active growth and full leaf expansion.
