Viburnum plicatum 'PINK SENSATION' Japanese snowball
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Viburnum
Japanese snowball bush is an architectural shrub from China and Japan with nearly 100% horizontal, tiered branches and profusion of usually white flowers in late spring. Its habit is not only typical and used mostly in Japanese style gardens, but the shrub will also make a showcase in any landscape given enough room around where its prostrate habit will exhibit its almost aristocratic elegance and beauty. I have seen many castle gardens which could easily accommodate it and in full bloom visitors never seem happy enough making enough of its pictures using any available device.
Pink Sensation is quite untypical variety of Japanese snowball. It was selected and in 1953 introduced by Carl Kern from Wyoming Nursery in Ohio, USA, which is why it can also be found under one of its many alternative names Kern’s Pink.
Pink Sensation is a sensational Japanese snowball variety because of its unique pink-flushed flowers that are not composed in flat inflorescence but rounded. They emerge pale lime green, quickly gain soft pink shades before they mature to pure white. Flowering is profuse, begins in late April and continues until late May.
Deciduous leaves are broadly elliptic, furrowed, and serrated at margins. They emerge green, tinted bronze, change to rich green in summer, and turn burgundy red in autumn. Pink Sensation does not make tiered branches like many other viburnum plicatum varieties. It makes a compact, rather slow growing shrub that is a little wider than tall.
Last update 07-03-2019
Deciduous viburnums grow in any well-drained, medium fertile soil. They like full sun and even moisture but will also grow in part shade and can take temporary drought once established. Pruning is not required or even recommended as it could spoil the natural shape of the plant. Fully hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
