Snowberry, Common - Symphoricarpos albus

A small, twiggy shrub from 30 to 150 centimeters (1 to 5 feet), the stems are erect, slender, and rounded with a hollow pith, the bark is brown, peeling and becoming stringy with age; the leaves are deciduous, opposite, simple, bluish-green in color, oval to elliptic-oblong, approximately 19 to 51 mm (0.75 to 2 inches) long, obtuse, roundish; the perfect, pinkish flowers are bell-like in shape, borne in terminal spikes on the current season’s growth, usually in May to June; the fruit is a berry-like drupe, pure white, growing in dense clusters, approximately 15 mm (0.6 inch) in diameter, ripening in September and October and sometimes persisting well into the winter months. Habitat - often found on alluvial terraces on major streams and rivers in mountain and foothill areas, but infrequently in dryer regions. Tolerates a wide variety of conditions including high pH, high clay, droughty, and medium shade sites. The seed is easily cleaned by maceration, floating off of the pulp, followed by air-drying of the seed. Propagation by seed requires a combination of 2 to 3 months warm stratification at about 21°C (70°F) followed by 4 to 5 months cold chilling at 5°C (41°F), 40 to 60 minutes of acid scarification prior to warm stratification may increase germination; germination is erratic and varies by year and even seed source; seed dried and then stored in sealed containers at 5°C (41°F) remains viable for up to 2 years.

Greenhouse asexual propagation by softwood and dormant hardwood cuttings both root readily under greenhouse conditions that include 1,000 to 3,000 parts per million IBA, bottom heat, and overhead mist. This species suckers profusely but is generally not weedy.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007