Common Snowberry
Deciduous shrub reaching 1-2 m tall with spreading, branching habit. Features opposite oval leaves and clusters of small pink to white bell-shaped flowers. Produces distinctive white berries that persist through winter. Spreads by underground stems to form thickets. Adaptable to wide range of soil and light conditions. Important wildlife food and cover plant. Native to North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: Pink to White
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Sun Requirements: Part-Shade to Sun
Moisture: Dry to Moist-Drained
Phenology: Leaves emerge May. Small bell-shaped pink to white flowers appear June-July in dense clusters. White berries develop August-September, persisting through winter. Fall color minimal.
Wildlife Value: Critical winter food source for grouse, grosbeaks, robins, thrushes; browse for deer, elk, bighorn sheep; cover and nesting for gamebirds and small mammals; flowers attract hummingbirds and bees
Habit Over Time: Develops into dense thickets through underground rhizomes and suckers. Starts as individual stems but gradually forms colonies 6-10 feet wide. Lower branches may arch and root where they contact soil. Creates reliable winter structure and habitat. Requires periodic management to contain spread.
Height: Medium (3-6 feet)