Western Snowberry vs Chester Thornless Blackberry - TreeTime.ca

Western Snowberry vs Chester Thornless Blackberry

Rubus fruticosa Chester (Thornless)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Chester Thornless Blackberry
Western Snowberry

Chester Thornless Blackberry is a self-pollinating fruit-bearing shrub. In mid-summer, the Chester Thornless Blackberry produces large, sweet-tasting, heart-shaped blackberries that are perfect for fresh eating. It is a semi-erect blackberry plant that requires little support from a trellis to keep its fruit off the ground. Don't forget to protect your berries. The birds love this shrub almost as much as you will.

Chester Thornless Blackberries are floricanes, primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth.

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.

Chester Thornless Blackberry Quick Facts

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $12.49 - SAVE UP TO 26%
Zone: 3b
Zone: 1a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: high
Maintenance: high


Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans
Flowers: pink
Flowers: pinkish white
Berries: heart shaped black
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Firmness: firm
Harvest: July
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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