Guelder rose vs Japanese snowball

Guelder rose and Japanese snowball are often considered for the same spot in the garden (flowers, screening, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Guelder rose

Viburnum opulus 3 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A fast-growing, large native shrub with lobed, maple-like leaves, flat white lacecap flowers in May and June, red autumn foliage and glossy red…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 320

Japanese snowball

Viburnum plicatum 2.5 m × 3 m after 10 years

A broad, spreading deciduous shrub with horizontal, tiered branches that are lined with two rows of white flowers in late spring: the lacecap forms…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 290

Key differences

Japanese snowball needs less water than Guelder rose.
Guelder rose also takes chalky soil, Japanese snowball prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk.
Guelder rose also takes heavy clay, Japanese snowball needs a loose, free-draining soil.

Which one to choose?

Guelder rose is the better choice if the soil is chalky or the soil is heavy clay.

Japanese snowball is the better choice if you cannot water regularly.

Watch out for

Guelder rose

Viburnum leaf beetle larvae in late spring and the adult beetles in late summer chew the leaves to lace, and guelder rose is among the most susceptible species: repeated defoliation year after year weakens the shrub and in bad cases can kill it. In winter cut off and destroy shoot tips showing rows of small capped egg pits, and pick off larvae in spring. Black aphids regularly curl the shoot tips. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe the foliage scorches and drops early without watering.

Japanese snowball

In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe it wilts quickly and the leaf margins brown and scorch, so it is best grown in part shade, mulched and watered in drought. It also dislikes waterlogging and heavy, airless clay, where stems may die back. It can be cut back by frost in a very hard winter. It is among the viburnums most resistant to viburnum leaf beetle and seldom has serious pests or diseases.

The data side by side

Feature	Guelder rose	Japanese snowball
Group	Shrub	Shrub
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m	2.5 m × 3 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	3–5 m × 2.5–4.5 m	1.5–4.5 m × 1.5–5.5 m
Growth rate	Fast (uncertain)	Medium
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	no data	Low
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, white	April–June, white, pink
Water need	High	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Low
Maintenance	Medium	Low
Planting distance	200 cm	250 cm
For children	Mildly toxic	no data
Typical price	about CZK 700 (40–60 cm)	approx. CZK 390

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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