Western Snowberry vs Balsors Blackberry - TreeTime.ca

Western Snowberry vs Balsors Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus Balsors

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Balsors Blackberry
Western Snowberry

The Balsors Blackberry is a cold-hardy variety that produces very large, sweet and juicy blackberries late in the summer. They are great for baking and fresh eating.

Balsors Blackberry are floricanes, primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn’t require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

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.

Balsors Blackberry Quick Facts

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 1a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: black
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Fruit size: large
Firmness: soft
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: August
Flowers: pinkish white
Bark: has thorns
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: high




Toxicity: berries are toxic to humans
Other Names: balsors hardy blackberry, illinois blackberry
Other Names: buckbrush, wolfberry