Symphoricarpos albus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-for-ee-KAR-poss AL-bus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The name Symphoricarpos Albus comes from the work Symphori, which means 'bear together', and capos, meaning fruits. This refers to the clusters of fruits. The common name, Snowberry, refers to its snow-white berries.
This plant that can be found growing along wooded, dry, rocky slopes, bluffs, barrens, outcrops as well as along banks and woodlands. Under the optimum growing conditions, it will spread and form a dense thicket or colonies through its suckering.
This is a great addition to a winter garden, with the white berries a focal point against the leafless branches. It can also be used in a rain garden or as privacy/screening
This bushy, rounded shrub is twiggy and has ascending branches. Its short stalked flowers form at the branch tips in clusters of 2 to 10 flowers. The cup or bell shaped blooms contain 5 lobes that do not spread and their length is as long or shorter than the tube. The tubes contain 5 stamens and white style with a stigma near the tip. Coralberry is colonial and it needs more than one genetic strain to produce fruit.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Although uncommon, some issues affecting this plant include leaf spot, rust, powdery mildew, and berry rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Symphoricarpos
- Species:
- albus
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Subarctic America to North & West Central U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WN, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies, birds and small mammals are attracted to this shrub's berries.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- For optimum fruit production, plant in full sun. The rounded berries appear green, as the fruit ripens, it will become white. Each fruit contains 2 nutlets.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The showy flowers form on new growth. They appear in the leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The dull, 2-4" dark green leaves have a smooth margin.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- The thin older bark often splits to expose a purple-brown under layer.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The erect stems are hollow and hairy. Plants range from single to multiple stemmed. Near the base, the stems can be up to 1/2" in diameter.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Poor Soil
