Western Snowberry vs Winterberry - TreeTime.ca

Western Snowberry vs Winterberry

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

Ilex verticillata

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Western Snowberry
Winterberry

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.

Winterberry is a small shrub that produces large quantities of bright red berries that remain on the plant through the fall and into the winter. Adding this shrub to your yard will give it a unique splash of color and attract birds, especially after the leaves drop.

Note: although the foliage is attractive on its own, you need at least one male plant near your female plants or they won't produce berries.

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Winterberry Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: bright orange to red
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Berries: bright red, stays through winter
Flowers: pinkish white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium



Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans

Other Names: buckbrush, wolfberry
Other Names: black alder, canada holly, coralberry, fever bush, michigan holly, winterberry holly