Symphoricarpos albus
Common Snowberry
Caprifoliaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native from Nova Scotia and Alberta south to Minnesota and Virginia
- hardy to zone 3
Habit and Form
- deciduous multi-stemmed shrub
- 3-6 ft. tall and wide
- bushy, rounded habit
- twiggy, dense branching
- spreads by suckers underground
Summer Foliage
- opposite, simple leaves
- ovate, rounded shape
- blue-green color
- pubescent undersides
Autumn Foliage
- no appreciable fall color
Flowers
- terminal spikes on current growth
- pinkish, tubular blossoms .25" long
- blooms not very showy
Fruit
- round to oval drupe .5" diameter
- brilliant white color
- persist September-November
- very ornamental
Bark
- rounded, pubescent stems
- thin, brown bark
Culture
- easy to transplant
- tolerates any soil
- sun to medium shade
- prune before new growth
Landscape Use
- shrub border
- shaded gardens
- naturalizing
Liabilities
- suckers profusely and spreads
- little floral show
- no fall color
ID Features
- white fall drupes
- rounded, bushy habit
- suckering growth
- opposite leaves and buds
Propagation
- by cuttings
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
var. laevigatus (also known as S. rivularis) - This is a more vigorous grower that is larger in all its parts. It grows taller than 6' and, most important from an ornamental perspective, features larger fruit that are more profusely borne.
'Variegata' - This is a delicate, fine-textured variegated form with white-edged leaves. It will reach 4' tall after many years.