Western Snowberry vs Hardy Banana - TreeTime.ca

Western Snowberry vs Hardy Banana

Musa basjoo

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Hardy Banana
Western Snowberry

The Hardy Banana is a fast-growing evergreen perennial that dies down to the ground each year. A stunning tropical-looking accent for your yard and patio, the Japanese Fiber Banana can be overwintered outdoors in several northern U.S. states and southern Canadian regions. In northern regions, you can bring this plant inside and leave it in your garage. If you enjoy Mexican cuisine, you can use the leaves to make tamales.

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.

Hardy Banana Quick Facts

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 1a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans
Flowers: large cream to yellow
Flowers: pinkish white
Fruit: Large inedible
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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