Plant · GBIF taxon 8012439
Symphoricarpos albus
symphoricarpos albusAlso known as Snowberry, Waxberry, Bellberry, Ice Apple
Common snowberries form dense thickets across North America, spreading via underground rhizomes to stabilize hillsides and riverbanks. Small pinkish bell flowers blossom in early summer, providing nectar for native bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. By autumn, plump snow-white berries swell along slender branches, remaining intact long into winter after the leaves fall.
DeciduousWhite BerriesNative Shrub
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—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Browsing Deer
- Elk
- Bighorn Sheep
ThreatsHabitat loss and competition from aggressive invasive plants
HabitatsOpen woodlands, forest edges, rocky slopes, and stream banks
Life span20 to 40 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDipsacales
- FamilyCaprifoliaceae
- GenusSymphoricarpos
- Speciessymphoricarpos albus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains saponins causing illness if eaten; wild berries also have toxic look-alikes, so never ingest.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains saponins and alkaloids that cause gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, dizziness, and sedation when eaten by humans or pets.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by soft, spongy white berries that swell to half an inch wide on thin, woody stems.
- What to do
- Never eat any wild white berries and keep pets or small children from playing with or picking the fruit.
Responsible observation
- Winter Identification: Look for persistent clusters of pure white, spongy berries hanging on bare grey twigs well into snowfall.
- Landscape Uses: Plant on sloped garden areas or eroded banks where spreading roots provide natural soil stabilization.
Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Jeffrey Lee (he/him/his), some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Member (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette · cc-by
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