Native Plant Spotlight - Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)

What is Snowberry?

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a deciduous shrub native to much of the Pacific Northwest. It creates thickets of sparse branches. It flowers in the summer with small pink and white flowers. The oval leaves and sparse branches creates an airy and delicate look for the garden. The white berry is eaten by a variety of animals. The berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea when ingested by humans. The plant has also been used for medicinal purposes.

 

Snowberry as a Wildlife Plant

Snowberry is a great plant to add to either the garden or wild spaces or your landscape. This plant produces little pink and white bell shaped flowers that attract a variety of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The flowers provide nector and pollen from May to August. After flowering, fleshy white round berrys will form. When the fleshy fruits develop they provide an late summer food source for passing mammals and birds. The fruits are a great food source in the winter as they remain on the branches late into the year unlike many other berries. The leaves also provide forage for both small and large mammals. The thick growth of the will provide safe hiding and nesting places.

Snowberry Growth Habits

The mature plant can reach 3 - 5 ft in height and 3-6 ft width. The plant can be planted in full shade to sun. The plant also tolerates a variety of soil conditions surviving in both dry landscapes and moist landscapes. This makes it a great plant to grow in areas experiencing drought conditions. However, it is beneficial to water newly planted shrubs for the first two years while the plant is establishing roots. The plants ability to tolerate harsh conditions makes it a great plant to use in restoration for forests, riparian and areas with high erosion potential. The plant has a tendency to develop sucker growth resulting in eventual spread. This spreading behavior makes the snowberry a great choice for hedge row plantings or filling in larger wild spaces. While snowberry relatively low maintenance shrub, it can be pruned to be managed in a more formal planting plan. Pruning may be necessary to maintain size and shape if a less wild appearance is desired. Consider pruning lower in the winter to reduce height and prevent plant from drooping with the weight of fruits in the summer.