Our Chinese Snowball Bush & Global Warming

Snowball bush, Viburnum macrocephalum. (Photo by brighterblooms.com)

The Chinese snowball bush has huge rounded white hydrangea-like blooms and usually blooms in the spring although the flowers last for months.  Two years ago we planted one, and the first spring it was full of blossoms.  This past spring it did not bloom at all.  In late summer and early fall it produced lots of buds.

Buds of Chinese snowball bush.

I noticed the last few weeks these buds are opening and producing blossoms here in the middle of fall.  It has been unusually warm this fall and that probably explains why this plant is confused.  Although I did read that if a plant is in full sun it may bloom throughout the year.  Our plant gets plenty of sun.

Yesterday they were calling for possible freezing temperature during the night, so I brought in a couple of the most developed flowering heads.  In the warm temperature of the house, the remaining buds will likely open. 

Snowball bush producing flowers in the fall.

Flowers in a vase, forcing buds to open in house.

This is truly a spectacular bush in the spring, and I hope the remaining buds won't get nipped during the winter.  This screwy weather is confusing my plants.