Common Snowberry vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Common Snowberry vs White Fringe Tree

Symphoricarpos albus

Chionanthus virginicus

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Common Snowberry
White Fringe Tree

Common Snowberry is a small deciduous shrub with characteristic white to pink flowers and clusters of white fruit.

This North American native species is very adaptable, and can be used for erosion control in riparian and restoration areas. Snowberry's fruit attracts wildlife, and livestock can consume the berries without issue.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Common Snowberry Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium

Toxicity: berries toxic to humans

Bark: red-brown shredded bark
Flowers: pink to white flowers in spring
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
Berries: white waxy berries
Berries: blue to black
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: common snowberry
Other Names: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree