Snowball Viburnum vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Snowball Viburnum vs Opata Cherry Plum

Viburnum opulus roseum

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Snowball Viburnum
Opata Cherry Plum

Snowball Viburnum is a popular ornamental shrub with prolific flowering. This plant is prized for its round clusters of white flowers that resemble snowballs, delighting children and adults. In fall, its leaves turn vibrant shades of red.

Snowball Viburnum is sought after as a single accent shrub, but can also make a dense hedge or privacy screen.

Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.

The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Snowball Viburnum Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 2a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: purplish-red
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Flowers: white
Bark: gold to gray
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium




Other Names: european cranberrybush, guelder rose, snowball bush, snowball tree
Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry