Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Western Snowberry, Wolfberry)

Photo by Jim Pisarowicz, National Park Service

Western Snowberry is named for its puffy white berries that turn somewhat reddish in the fall, and while the clusters of berries are very ornamental they are not edible for people though birds and other wildlife find them delectable.

This 3’ deciduous shrub has stiff upright branches and gray green oblong leaves.

It produces attractive pink to white urn shaped flowers at the branch ends in early summer.

It has a thicket forming habit making it a good choice for exposed sunny slopes and hillsides that are prone to soil erosion.

Western Snowberry can be found across the upper portion of the United States, USDA zone 3-9, but does not appear to do well in the southern states.

  

                                                                                                                     Fall Leaf Color