Scientific Family
Caprifoliaceae
Other common names
snowberry
whortleleaf snowberry
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Similar species
Symphoricarpos rotundifolia
A low growing, erect or sometimes trailing mountain shrub with spreading to arching branches and white berry-like fruits.
Erect, much-branched shrub, twigs smooth. Older bark shreddy and peeling. Leaves opposite, oval with prominent veins. Funnel-like white to pink flowers solitary or in small terminal clusters, base swollen above stem. White berry-like fruit.
Height
4-1/2 feet
Width
4 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Found in mountain pine forests.
Plant Community
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5500
High elevation
9000
Leaves
Leaf color
Dark green, grayish-green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf hairs
Top and bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Darker green, smooth above, grayish-green below, prominently veined, opposite, oval and thin to 1 inch long. Top of leaf usually slightly hairy. Underside of leaf has gray to whitish hairs.
Flowers
Flower color
White to pinkish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
August
Flowers slender, tubular to bell-shaped, 5 spreading lobes to 1/2 inch long. Petals white to pinkish; flowers often hairy in their throat.
Flower clusters
None
Fruit
Fruit color
White
Fruit type
Berry-like
White, round berries are usually borne in pairs of 2, each containing 2 nutlets each.