Description
Symphoricarpos – Snowberry – Coralberry –
There are about 17 deciduous shrubs, allied to Lonicera (honeysuckle), in this genus. They are found naturally occurring in woodlands and thickets and on prairies and plains in North and Central America with one that derives from Western China. They are grown for their spherical or ovoid, fleshy, white to pink, or dark blue or purple fruits, which last well into winter which stand out clearly in winter when the branches are bare. And for their tiny, bell or funnel shaped nectar rich, white to pink flowers, which attract bees. The spring borne flowers are borne singly or in terminal or axillary clusters, spikes, or dense racemes. The leaves are opposite, and are elliptical to nearly rounded sometime with a slightly glaucous coloration and downy undersides. They are very hardy, and tolerant of poor soil, pollution, and exposed sites. Good for a shrub border, screen, or informal hedge. Use S. x chenaultii ‘Hancock’ as a ground cover. Fruits may cause mild stomach upset if ingested, contact with them may irritate skin. Easily grown in any fertile, reasonably well drained soil in full sun or shade.
Prone to anthracnose and powdery mildew.
S. x doorenbosii ‘Mother of Pearl’ – Doorenbos Coralberry – This strong growing, multi stemmed arching, thicket forming shrub is a cross between S. albus var. laevigatus and S. x chenaultii and grows 6′ feet tall and has an indefinite spread. It produces rounded to oval shaped, dark green leaves, up to 1 ½” long, paler beneath. In mid and late summer, bears short racemes of small, bell shaped, greenish white flowers, followed in fall by dense crops of spherical white fruit mottled with pink, to ½” across, with a pink blush when exposed to the sun.
Zones 4-7
