Shrubs for Late Summer: Snowberry

Symphoricarpos (Snowberry)
Photo Credits - Published to Web

It’s hot! Summer is “getting on” and we’ve seen some of our favorite plants arrive, perform, and finish their display of blooms in our landscape.  The season of Late July through September is often considered by many the “dog days” of summer.  We often think that many of our opportunities for performance in our landscape have passed us by.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  In a series of articles, we’ll share with you some of our favorite shrubs for “late summer” interest.

While a likely unknown shrub candidate, Snowberry or Symphoricarpos are native plants throughout the central and eastern United States.  They have since been distributed and introduced into nearly all of the fifty states.

Useful as a low hedge or border, Snowberry often do best in areas of plentiful moisture, and yet areas that drain well.  These shrubs also benefit from some afternoon shade.  Great locations for these would be under trees or along the East side of a building or fence where they will likely receive a break from the hot afternoon sun.

First Editions: Candy Coral Berry
Photo Credits - Bailey Nurseries

Something unique about snowberry is the color and time period of the fruits.  Blooming in early July, these plants have gray-green foliage atop often wiry stems; the plants in this Genus vary in height and spread.  The white or pink flowers begin to develop in late June or early July.  They are born in groups or in long clusters depending on the Species.  The flowers then mature to attractive clusters of fruits in mid to late August.  Varying in color by species, the fruits are often white, pink, or red.  The color on these fruits is often held until well into September.  The color can begin to fade when the snow sometimes arrives.  The fruits are often a food source for birds and other wildlife.

Some Snowberry are taller and more upright while others are shorter and have a more sprawling habit.  Whether upright or creeping, they all have a light tendency to sucker and run.  While not dramatically quick, they can “naturalize” if they are not paid attention to.  

A smart trick we like for shrubs and perennial plants that can be “friendly” is to bury them in a larger nursery container.  If you leave the lip of the container just above the soil level, it can be hidden with mulch or rock.  This plastic nursery container will help to create a barrier and reduce the plant’s ability to sucker to areas where it is not desired.  Always be sure that the container you choose has adequate drainage and ability for water to disperse into the soil around it.

As you may have guessed, the best time to prune this shrub would be in the fall after it has lost its leaves.  Removing around 20% of the largest, thickest stems in the fall will help to create room for fresh young growth to appear from the root system.  This will help to promote more flowers and fruits to develop.  The leaves, while attractive gray-green have little to no fall color or interest to them.  Though what the leaves lack, these plants make up for in the fruit.