This large shrub grows into an upright dense mound. The Original Snowball Bush An amazingly 'SHOWY' addition to any landscape; the Viburnum macrocephalum, more commonly known as the 'Chinese Snowball Bush', is beautiful and easy-to-grow. How to Prune a Japanese Snowball. Viburnum macrocephalum, commonly called Chinese snowball viburnum, is native to China. Blue Snowball Bush Many people confuse it with hydrangea, but it blooms much earlier than hydrangeas. Hydrangea macropylla—also known as French, Japanese or Snowball hydrangea--is the most successful hydrangea for cultivation in Zone 10. Chinese snowball viburnum is Viburnum macrocephalum. The flowers emerge a striking lime-green in late spring and gradually turn to snowy-white in mid-May; they retain their green color for several weeks before turning to cream and then to white. The Original Snowball Bush An amazingly 'SHOWY' addition to any landscape; the Viburnum macrocephalum, more commonly known as the 'Chinese Snowball Bush', is beautiful and easy-to-grow. The spring-flowering Japanese snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum) attracts butterflies into the garden. Multi-stemmed 'Popcorn' has an attractive upright, tiered habit and burgundy-red fall color. The snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) species of hydrangea is known for its enormous, spherical, white flower heads.These beautiful shrubs often become so covered with 10-inch blooms that it can look like a fresh blanket of snow has fallen on them, hence their common name. Flowering about 10 days earlier than the Japanese snowball… Dig a hole that is three times the width of the container (the root ball) and just as deep. The three-inch clusters of snowball flowers start out apple-green and morph to white, eventually fading to a rosy color, as do some hydrangea shrubs.. You can cut the flowers to use in displays.