Native Plant of the Month: Snowberryby Erica Guttman At this time of year, the huge, white fruits of the snowberry really make us take notice of this little plant, which is otherwise so inconspicuous in the spring and early summer. I consider snowberry to be a kind of "miracle" plant: though delicate-looking, it has great soil-binding properties and can tolerate just about any soil and sun conditions, making it ideal for restoration projects as well as for landscaping. What's in a Name? The lovely white fruits that are so prominent from late summer through mid-winter are the obvious sources for the common names "snowberry" and "waxberry." The scientific name is Symphoricarpos albus. The generic name refers to clustered fruits, deriving from the Greek word "symphorein," meaning "bear together," and "karpos," meaning "fruit." The specific name, albus, simply means white. Thus: white, clustered fruits. Snowberries are in the Caprifoliaceae or Honeysuckle Family. Locally, other Honeysuckle Family relatives include the twinberry and elderberries. General Description Snowberry is a low-growing deciduous shrub with a maximum height of around six feet. It is easily distinguished by its very slender twigs and the opposite arrangement of leaves and branches. Leaves on mature stems are small -- about one inch on average -- and elliptical or oval with smooth margins. But leaves can be quite variable -- especially on new, vigorous shoots -- and may grow two to three inches long with wavy or deeply lobed (almost oak-like!) margins. These variations can be quite confusing, making it necessary to remember to look for the delicate twigs and opposite arrangement to confirm identification. In spring and throughout summer, one finds pretty but inconspicuous pink or white bell-shaped flowers in dense clusters on the ends of the twigs. These flowers transform into the white fruits, which persist deep into winter, finally turning orange and gelatinous before falling off. In sunny locations, where fruits tend to be more abundant, one can see stems bending almost to the ground with the weight of those berry clusters. In winter, tiny pointed greenish or pink-tipped buds on those slim stems are the sure-fire identification clues. Distribution & Ecology Snowberry has a widespread distribution and is found throughout our region at low to middle elevations. It grows in a variety of habitats -- from wetland borders to dry uplands -- and in a variety of soils, including sand and clay. Furthermore, it is found in full sun, partial shade and even deep shade, although in deep shade it tends to be very short and lacks the vigor it exhibits in sunnier locations. Snowberry spreads through an extensive system of rhizomes to form widespread thickets. It will also tolerate winter flooding as long as it also has a corresponding dry period during the summer. These properties make it a particularly useful plant for a wide range of restoration projects, especially to prevent erosion along streamsides or when working with challenging soil types. Snowberry is an important food source for many types of wildlife. The foliage is browsed by large mammals, such as deer and elk, and the leaves also provide food for certain butterfly and moth larvae. The tiny flowers provide nectar to hummingbirds and some butterflies; and the fruit, although not considered a first choice by most species, is eaten by thrushes, grosbeaks, waxwings, towhees, grouse, pheasants and quail. The fruit may be especially important when preferred food choices are scarce, during hard winters or at winter's end. In the Landscape Because it will grow just about anywhere, snowberry can be incorporated nicely into any landscape. It is especially useful to transition from large trees and shrubs to low ones and ground covers. Although the fruits provide plenty of winter interest, snowberry is especially attractive planted among evergreen shrubs and ferns. It will spread quickly to fill in empty spaces in a dense landscape. Aside from its beauty, planting snowberry is a good way to attract birds and butterflies to your garden. Snowberry is easily obtained, as it can be propagated from both seeds and cuttings, and it is easily salvaged and transplanted. Nursery stock is generally easy to find, although many nurseries won't carry our local subspecies, so be sure to ask where their stock is from. Another variety, coralberry, is also available; mixed with snowberry, coralberry's pink berries add a nice contrast to the white berries. Ethnobotany Perhaps no other local berry has generated so much disagreement over whether it is poisonous or not. Pojar and MacKinnon report that many native tribes considered snowberry poisonous, and identified it with names such as "corpse berry." J.E. Underhill notes that some authors consider it poisonous, while others just consider it unpalatable. Either way, Underhill notes, it tastes awful and would therefore not be likely to be consumed in a quantity sufficient to poison one. The Stl'atl'imx people ate a few berries to settle upset stomachs after eating too much fatty food. References Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. Russell Link. 1999. University of Washington Press, Seattle. Northwestern Wild Berries. J.E. Underhill. 1980. Hancock House Publishers Inc., Blaine, WA. Grow Your Own Native Landscape. Michael Leigh. 1997. Native Plant Salvage Project, WSU Cooperative Extension -- Thurston County. Winter in the Woods. E. Guttman & R. Thurman. 1999. Native Plant Salvage Project, WSU Cooperative Extension -- Thurston County. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. J. Pojar & A. MacKinnon. 1994. Lone Pine Publishing, Redmond, WA. Dictionary of Plant Names. A. Coombes. 1994. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Erica Guttman is a staff writer for the Green Pages.
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