Purple Leaf Sand Cherry vs Wild Snowberry - TreeTime.ca

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry vs Wild Snowberry

Symphoricarpos spp.

Prunus x cistena

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

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Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

Wild Snowberry is a mix of Common Snowberry and Western Snowberry. Each shrub's size, flower, and berry colour may vary.

This plant is abundant across the prairies. It can be planted alone or as a hedge in small yards. This shrub's ornamental berries persist into winter. Wild Snowberry can be a natural habitat and food source for various animals.

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry provides bright reddish-purple leaves that turn bronze-green in the fall. In the spring, tiny flowers with a pinkish white hue bloom. The flowers are small, but the impact comes from the shrub blossoming all at once.

The Purple leaf sand cherry can be susceptible to pests and diseases in more humid areas; a typical life span is approximately 15 years. Not suitable for a privacy hedge on its own but is often alternated with lilacs. Often used as an accent plant that attracts birds and bees.

Wild Snowberry Quick Facts

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Quick Facts

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


Toxicity: the leaves and seed are slightly toxic
Foliage: purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Bark: dark red to purple
Flowers: white and occasionally pinkish
Flowers: pinkish
Fruit: dark red fruit
Berries: showy white berries persist into winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB
Other Names: coralberry, ghostberry, waxberry, wolfberry
Other Names: purpleleaf sandcherry