Viburnum Spring Snowballs

In the Sun Valley Flower World, it ain't spring until we have Viburnum.  And ladies and gentlemen, do we have Viburnum!

Viburnum is extra special because its growing season is one of the shortest--we start picking at the end of March (when their many-flowered heads are nice and full) and we are usually done by the end of April  You may hear Viburnum blooms also referred to as Snowballs--this is because their mass of tiny blossoms give each bloom-head a spherical, puffy shape.

Viburnum is also known for its color change during the season (which we'll talk about below).  They first bloom in a vivid lime green color and then turn to ivory-white puffballs as they mature in the sunshine.  

Early-Season and Late-Season Viburnum

Willow Creek Canyon

We grow Viburnum at our inland farm (a mountain canyon better known as Willow Creek) whose micro-climate provides the perfect conditions to produce this fantastic spring show.  

A rainbow beckons in Spring to our Willow Creek Farm

We plant viburnum in both open fields and covered hoop houses--the hoop houses hold in heat, contributing to a faster growing rate.  This simple trick allows us to extend the normally super-short viburnum growing season.  We can stagger our picking schedule, starting with early-season hoop houses and ending with their open field-grown counterparts.   

Here is the progression of growth over 6 weeks from dormant stems to super green foliage and blooms

 Viburnum Green-to-White

Viburnum is famous for its color change from green-to-white, which signifies the progression of the season. For example, right now, the crop is a charming green color.  This fresh look is known as early-season viburnum; it looks stunning on its own (a veritable spring forest with long stems and full, lime-green heads), and also works wonders as a focal piece in spring bouquets, adding color and a field-to-vase aesthetic to any home or bridal arrangement.

 

Late-season viburnum is another visual treat.  As our crops mature and the open-fields get a few weeks of full sunshine, our young, green viburnum develops into a brilliant white.  We still pick while it's mostly green, just like we do with our iris, tulips, and lilies.  This guarantees a longer vase life and you can watch it color up beautifully.

White snowball viburnum has an exquisite and classical appearance--its long stems and multiple florets still brings the wildflower aesthetic to arrangements like early-season green viburnum, but it also boasts an elegant cleanliness that can only be achieved with white. 

Regardless of whether you opt for early-season green or late-season white, this heady bloom and its wonderfully long, wooden stems makes it the perfect floral complement for wedding bouquets, Mother's day arrangements, or any quintessential spring gathering.  But you better hurry, like spring, viburnum season passes in a beautiful flash.

Green Viburnum and Tulips make the perfect Spring Statement