Blackcurrant vs Western Snowberry - TreeTime.ca

Blackcurrant vs Western Snowberry

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

Ribes nigrum

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Western Snowberry
Blackcurrant

Like the Common Snowberry, the Western Snowberry is a small shrub with pink flowers useful for feeding livestock and preventing erosion. Unlike the common species, however, the Western Snowberry is much more suited to wet conditions, capable of persevering through poor soil drainage and occasional flooding.

After the Snowberry's flowers have bloomed, it produces berries which often last on the plant through winter. These berries are toxic to humans, but livestock and local wildlife love them! Those hoping to attract wildlife to their property can plant Snowberry and expect to see animals foraging on it much later in the year than other plants.

Blackcurrant is a medium-sized shrub producing delicious, deep purple to black sweet berries suitable for jams, jellies, syrups and cordial.

Our Blackcurrant is grown from seed from the "Ben" series of Blackcurrant cultivars, developed by the Mylnefield Research Station in Scotland with a focus on cold hardiness and heavy commercial fruit production. Our seedlings will be slightly different due to hereditary differences but will be very similar to this series.

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Blackcurrant Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: none

Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans

Flowers: pinkish white
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Berries: dark purple to black berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, NT
Other Names: buckbrush, wolfberry
Other Names: european black currant