Common Snowberry

#35. Common Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

The flowers of snowberry consist of a small cluster of pinkish bells found at the tips of each stem.

Family:

Honeysuckle Family

Habitat:

Open, understory forest plant

Characteristics:

1. Woody shrub 2-6 feet tall with simple, opposite, round leaves.

2. Bell-shaped flowers of white to pink terminal flowers bloom in early summer.

3. Waxy white berry readily identifies this plant from fall through winter. Berries remain on ends of bare twigs.

Uses:

1. Berries are bitter/poisonous and best left to beautify the winter woodland.

2. The Latin name means soap. The leaves & berries were often used as soap by Northwest Indians.

The berries of snowberry are white, a sign that they are poisonous to eat!

Slichter