Flower Properties

Property	Value
English Name	Japanese Snowball
MainColor	White
PlantType	Shrub
Growth Type	Cultivated
Season	May
ImageUrl	Viburnum-001
Photographer	DP
Location
Human Toxicity	Mildly_Toxic

Flower Details

Description

A deciduous shrub with a tiered branching structure, showy white lacecap or snowball-like flower clusters in late spring, and red berries in summer that ripen to black. It also features striking red-purple autumn foliage, making it popular in ornamental landscaping.

Distribution

Native to Japan and China. Widely cultivated in the UK as a decorative shrub but not naturalised.

Medicinal/Other Uses

Some Viburnum species have been used in traditional medicine for muscle spasms and cramps, but V. plicatum is primarily ornamental.

Edibility

Berries are not edible for humans.

Human Toxicity

The berries may cause mild stomach upset if eaten by humans or pets.

Pet Toxicity

Mildly toxic – ingestion of berries may cause vomiting or diarrhea in cats or dogs.

Active Compounds

Saponins and tannins.