Overview & Description

The White Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a hardy, native deciduous shrub prized for its upright, rounded form and striking ornamental fruit. Its ovate, blue-green leaves are oppositely arranged and turn a soft yellow to brownish hue in autumn. In summer, it produces small, bell-shaped, light pink flowers in clusters that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. These are followed by the shrub’s most distinctive feature: abundant, showy, pure white, berry-like drupes that persist from fall well into winter, providing a crucial food source for birds and wildlife. This shrub has a fibrous, shallow root system and spreads by suckering to form dense thickets.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits a bushy, multi-stemmed, rounded habit with dense, twiggy branching. It is a fast-growing shrub, typically reaching a mature size of about 3 to 6 feet in height with a similar spread of 3 to 5 feet. It spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies.

Additional Notes

It blooms from late spring to mid-summer. Exceptionally hardy to Zone 2, it is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, including heavy clay, poor, and alkaline conditions. It thrives in full sun to deep shade and tolerates wind, urban pollution, and maritime exposure. It is moderately deer resistant. An outstanding choice for naturalized areas, erosion control on banks and slopes, wildlife gardens, hedgerows, and challenging sites where its durable nature, attractive foliage, and winter berries provide ecological and ornamental value.