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White Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

White Snowberry is a rounded and bushy shrub with small leaves on arching stems. Clusters of small bell-shaped flowers begin to bloom in early summer, followed by attractive snow white berries later in the season. The clustered fruits remain …

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Plants 1 Gallon Pot Sold Out

1+ $29.99 ea.

Availability: Sold out

SKU

98910-GL

Cultural Details
Soil Type	Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Moisture	Dry, Medium, Moist
Sun Exposure	Full Sun, Partial
Height	4'
Bloom Color	White
Bloom Time	May, June, July
Spacing	5'
Hardiness Zones	2, 3, 4, 5
Root Type	Rhizome
Benefits	Birds, Pollinators, Host Plant

Description

This adaptable native shrub tolerates a variety of conditions and soil types, including clay, but the best flowering and fruiting will occur in full sun. Symphoricarpos albus spreads by suckering rhizomes to form a colony. Brushy shelter for summer birds and important berries in the middle of winter are important wildlife features. It is also a larval host plant for the Vashti Sphinx and the Snowberry Clearwing moth among others.

Planting and Cultivation Notes

Snowberry flowers are self-fertile and only one plant is needed for bountiful fruiting.

Range Map

Present in state
Present in county and native
Present in county, but introduced
Not present in state

Present and rare, native in county
Previously present, now locally extinct
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state, exotic

Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.

Shipping

Plant Shipping

At this time, plant orders are closed for spring 2022. We ship plants twice a year, during one of our plant-shipping periods – one in the spring and one in the fall.
During checkout, you will choose a Shipping Week for your plant delivery (availability is filled on a first-come-first-serve basis). The shipping week that you choose will be included in your email order confirmation.
When your plants have shipped you will receive an email with tracking information.
Learn more about how we ship your plants …

General Information

We are not able to combine a new order with a previous order, for shipping.
Plants and Seeds are shipped separately and have different shipping rates.
With all orders, credit cards are pre-authorized and charged when your order is placed.
We are not able to arrange orders for pick-up at the Nursery. All orders are shipped.
Plants and Seeds are shipped to destinations within the contiguous United States, only.

Questions (6)

Product Questions

Is it better to plant this shrub in the spring or fall?

White Snowberry, and all native shrubs, can be planted in either spring or fall. When planting in fall we recommend making sure the plants are installed at least 6 weeks before the ground starts to freeze. This will give the plant enough time to get rooted-in. Read our Tips for Planting in Fall in the Resources & Guides pages, for more information.

Is the fruit edible for humans?

The fruit of White Snowberry is an important winter food source for quail, pheasant, and grouse, but is considered inedible/toxic to humans. The berries are said to have a very unpleasant flavor and contain the alkaloid chelidonine, as well as other alkaloids. Ingesting the berries can cause symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and slight sedation in children.

What size is this shrub when shipped?

Our potted shrubs are between 1' and 2' high when shipped. The root is well developed and the plants have established branching. This shrub is in a one gallon (or #1) container, which is approximately 7" deep x 6.5" wide at the top.

Should this shrub be planted in spring or fall?

This shrub can be successfully planted in either spring or fall. See Tips for Planting in Fall for more informtation about planting perennials (including shrubs) in the fall. Information on How to Plant Shrubs is also available in our Resource & Guides pages.

Is this shrub deer resistant?

This shrub is not deer resistant.

If you live in an area where deer are present, we recommend protecting any newly installed shrubs by surrounding them with a wire fencing cage, or a plastic netting to protect them from being browsed by deer and/or rabbits. Food sources can be scarce in the winter, and young shrubs are choice when when there are no tender perennials available. If you live in an urban area where there are no deer, you may have rabbits in your yard. Rabbits also browse young, newly planted shrubs when other plants are not available.

These shrubs are deer resistant: New Jersey Tea, Sweet Fern, Shrubby St. John's Wort, Carolina Rose, Purple Flowering Raspberry.

What is the growth rate of White Snowberry?

White snowberry has a rapid growth rate. An individual plant can reach its mature size (height) in 2 or 3 years. The multi-stemmed shrub will continue to spread by suckers to form a thicket.

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