Symphoricarpos albus
(L.) S. F. Blake
Snowberry
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Summary
Source: WikipediaSymphoricarpos albus is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family known by the common name common snowberry. Native to North America, it is browsed by some animals and planted for ornamental and ecological purposes, but is poisonous to humans.
Description
A shrub. It grows 1.2-1.8 m high and spreads 1.2-1.8 m wide. The stems are wiry. It develops suckers. The flowers are pink and in clusters. The fruit are berries which are pale green but mature to pure white.
Edible Uses
The fruit are eaten fresh or made into jelly. The leaves can be brewed into a wintergreen-flavoured tea, and the flowers are a source of light-coloured honey.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten or made into jelly. The leaves can be used to brew a wintergreen flavoured tea. The flowers are the source of a light coloured honey.
Medicinal Uses
Native Americans used the plant as medicine, soap, and the wood was good for arrow shafts. In Russia, the berries are crushed in the hands and rubbed about for a soothing folk-remedy hand lotion. This shrub is used for erosion control in riparian areas, and it is planted in ecological restoration projects on disturbed sites, such as abandoned mines. Its white fruits and blue-green foliage made it a popular ornamental plant, planted around old houses from the 1890s to the 1920s, similar to the Vanhoutte spirea or bridal wreath. It is still sold by some large, diverse conventional nurseries and native plant nurseries, and can be found occasionally in modern landscapes. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and in well-drained soil with a pH range of about 6.0 to 8.5. It is easy to transplant thanks to its fibrous, shallow root system. It fares well in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones of 2 to 7. The plant is popular among children in Germany, who play with its ripe berries due to the popping sound they make when thrown on the ground. Because of this the plant, and specifically its berries, are also called Knallerbsen in German.
Known Hazards
The fruit and shrub are poisonous to humans, causing vomiting.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.
Where It Grows
Argentina, Australia, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Europe, North America, Slovenia, South America, Tajikistan, USA,
Notes
There are about 15-17 Symphoricarpus species. There are 7 Symphoricarpus species in tropical America. It can be invasive.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Pokec
References (12)
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
- Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 990
- Cormack, R. G. H., 1967, Wild Flowers of Alberta. Commercial Printers Edmonton, Canada. p 327
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1384
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 72
Show all 12 references Hide references
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 637 (As Symphoricarpus racemosus)
- Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 295
- http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
- Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 265
- Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 469
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 547
- Rhodora 16:118. 1914
