Symphoricarpos albus

Common Names

Common Snowberry, Snowberry, Upright Snowberry, White Snowberry, White Coralberry, Waxberry, Ice Apple

Summary

Common Snowberry is a native North American deciduous shrub that forms dense thickets via underground suckering, typically reaching 3–6 ft tall and wide. It features opposite bluish-green leaves, small pinkish bell-shaped flowers, and clusters of white berries that persist into winter, with berries attracting birds and flowers attracting bees and butterflies. In cultivation, it grows in sun to partial shade, tolerates a wide range of soils from dry to moist, and is drought-tolerant once established, with best fruit production in full sun. It spreads by suckers and can be pruned in late winter to early spring to control shape; easy to transplant and suitable for hedges, screens, erosion control, and naturalizing in open woodland areas, while providing wildlife value. Propagation is possible by cuttings or seeds; berries are poisonous to humans, though wildlife feed on them; occasional issues include anthracnose, rust, powdery mildew, and berry rot, mitigated by good air circulation and base watering.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6 feet

Spread

3-6 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate to fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Suckers, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, bees, butterflies, other pollinators