Valentine Cherry vs Western Snowberry - TreeTime.ca

Valentine Cherry vs Western Snowberry

Prunus x kerrasis Valentine

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Valentine Cherry
Western Snowberry

Valentine Cherry is a hardy deciduous shrub and hybrid variety of the University of Saskatchewan Sour Cherry released in the Romance Series of dwarf sour cherries in 2004. This medium-sized self-pollinator produces tart, bright red fruits in large clusters in late summer that are perfect for jams, pies and jellies. Valentine Cherry is ideal as a landscape or orchard tree.

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.

Valentine Cherry Quick Facts

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 1a
Height: 2.5 m (8 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: high


Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans
Fall colour: orange
Flowers: white
Flowers: pinkish white
Berries: large, red
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Fruit size: 4.5g
Flavor: tart
Harvest: early to mid August
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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