S’agit-il d’un hortensia boule de neige ou d’un buisson boule de neige ?

Vous voulez vraiment vous démarquer dans votre jardin ? Plantez une

viorne chinoise boule de neige

, ou, attendez, est-ce un hortensia boule de neige ? Vous savez, celui qui a de grandes fleurs blanches, des feuilles vertes vibrantes et un attrait pour les trottoirs à revendre ? Rendez-vous dans n’importe quelle jardinerie du Sud et vous vous retrouverez peut-être à faire une gigue similaire lorsque le professionnel du jardinage essaiera de déterminer exactement quelle plante magnifique vous recherchez.

L’hortensia ‘Annabelle’ (parfois appelé hortensia boule de neige) et la viorne boule de neige chinoise (également connue sous le nom de buisson boule de neige chinois) remplissent tous deux toutes les conditions, mais ils présentent un certain nombre de facteurs qui les différencient l’un de l’autre. Nous avons analysé tous les faits concernant ces deux

plantes du Sud

bien-aimées pour une ultime confrontation dans le jardin. Lisez la suite pour connaître les différences entre l’hortensia boule de neige et la viorne boule de neige chinoise.

Qu’est-ce qu’un hortensia boule de neige ?

• 
  Botanical Name:
  
  
  Hydrangea arborescens
  
  ‘Annabelle’
• 
  Sun Exposure:
  
  Full sun, partial shade
• 
  Soil Type:
  
  Moist, well-drained
• 
  Soil pH:
  
  5.5-6.5

Also called ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea, this is a variety of

smooth hydrangea

, a species that grows wild in the eastern U.S. It will reach 4 feet in both height and width, with huge, white flowering clusters that have been known to hit an expansive 10 inches in diameter. Similar to the Chinese snowball viburnum, the flowers start off green and turn white as they mature. The snowball hydrangea bloom period is longer, with blooms appearing in spring and sometimes again in the fall.

Morning sun and afternoon shade are

de rigueur

when it comes to

growing hydrangeas

, and ‘Annabelle’ is no different. Though its blooms are pretty forgiving, it still manages to put on a spring show even after a harsh winter or severe pruning. It grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soil in USDA Zones 3–9.

Prune in fall, winter, or early spring before green growth appears. While you can

prune

this plant to the ground, maintain a limb length of 18–24 inches in order to strengthen branches that could buckle under the weight of the enormous blooms.

What Is A Chinese Snowball Bush?

• 
  Botanical Name:
  
  
  Viburnum macrocephalum
  
• 
  Sun Exposure:
  
  Full sun, partial shade
• 
  Soil Type:
  
  Moist, well-drained, clay, loamy, sandy
• 
  Soil pH:
  
  5.5-6.5

Also known as Chinese snowball viburnum, this stunner blooms in spring, starting out with lime-green flowers that change to white as they develop. Each flower cluster rings in around 6 to 8 inches in diameter, with the large-scale shrub or small tree reaching heights of 12 to 20 feet tall. Not surprisingly, you won’t want to overdo it when planting. Just one or two

viburnum bushes

(depending on yard size) are all you’ll need to make a statement. It grows in USDA Zones 6–9.

Chinese snowball bush will thrive in full sun to partial shade, though warmer climates might require additional shade in the afternoon. It prefers moist, well-drained soil. Prune just after flowering in order to shape and remove dead wood; otherwise, let it do its thing.

Which Plant To Choose

We love the forgiving blooms of ‘Annabelle’, especially for those of us who are known to get a little aggressive with the garden shears. As for the Chinese snowball, this stunner gets an A+ for its

butterfly-attracting skills

. They both make a stunning addition to the garden.