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White snowberry Symphoricarpos albus

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
sim-for-ee-KAR-poss AL-bus
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

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.  

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:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#deciduous shrub#winter interest#erosion control#showy fruits#small mammals#poisonous fruits#deer resistant#bushy#naturalizes#pollinator plant#suckers#poor soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#winter garden#bee friendly#shrub borders#hedge#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#deciduous shrub#winter interest#erosion control#showy fruits#small mammals#poisonous fruits#deer resistant#bushy#naturalizes#pollinator plant#suckers#poor soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#winter garden#bee friendly#shrub borders#hedge#long lived
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Light Gray
    Bark Description:
    The thin older bark often splits to expose a purple-brown under layer.
  • 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.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator 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
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting and diarrhea
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Calcium oxalate and possibly saponic glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits