# Common Snowberry (*Symphoricarpos albus*) Common Snowberry is a bushy plant that grows small, white berries. These berries are not for eating, but they look pretty and are fun to find in the wild! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Common Snowberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Symphoricarpos_albus_-_Fruits_and_foliage_-_Les_Martels%252C_Giroussens_Tarn.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Symphoricarpos_albus_-_Fruits_and_foliage_-_Les_Martels%252C_Giroussens_Tarn.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Snowberry is a leafy shrub recognized by its small, oval green leaves and delicate pinkish-white, bell-shaped flowers. Its most distinctive feature is clusters of bright, pearl-like white berries that persist into winter, making it stand out against other dormant plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Symphoricarpos ## Interesting facts - Its bright white berries are so unusual, they often look like tiny, perfectly round snowballs! - Native peoples once used snowberry plant parts to make a simple soap! - Stepping on a ripe snowberry can make a fun popping sound! - Though it has white berries, it's related to honeysuckle, which often has red or black berries! ## Special abilities - **Winter Snack Bar:** Common Snowberry's white berries cling to its branches through winter, providing a crucial food source for birds when other food is scarce. - **Tough Roots:** Common Snowberry can grow in many different soil types and tolerate drought, helping it survive in tough conditions. - **Soil Stabilizer:** Common Snowberry has an extensive root system that helps prevent soil erosion, keeping the ground healthy and stable. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 cm - **Spread:** 50-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Mid-Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — American Robins enjoy its persistent berries, especially in winter. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honeybees visit its small flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Shelter:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Its dense branches provide cover and shelter for small wildlife. - **Eaten by:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Deer mice may consume snowberry foliage and fallen berries. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't eat the berries, as they are not safe for people. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Snowberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Common Snowberry? 50-200 cm ### How wide does Common Snowberry spread? 50-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Common Snowberry? 0.3-0.6 cm ### When does Common Snowberry bloom? Late Spring to Mid-Summer ### Is Common Snowberry edible? No ### Is Common Snowberry toxic? Mild ### What is Common Snowberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Polebridge Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/polebridge-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Union Bay Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/union-bay-natural-area) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Bush's Pasture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bushs-pasture-park) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Centennial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Common Snowberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-snowberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Snowberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-snowberry)