Western Snowberry vs White Fringe Tree - TreeTime.ca

Western Snowberry vs White Fringe Tree

Symphoricarpos occidentalis

Chionanthus virginicus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Western Snowberry
White Fringe Tree

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.

White Fringe Tree is known for its fringe-like white flowers. It can either grow as a small tree or a large multistemmed shrub. The White Fringe Tree has separate male and female plants. Both male and female flowers have white fringe-like petals, but the male flowers are longer and showier. The female flowers give way to clusters of dark blue to black berries. These berries are not edible for humans but attract birds and other wildlife.

The White Fringe Tree is tolerant of clay soils, saline soils, and air pollution but does not do well in prolonged dry conditions.

Western Snowberry Quick Facts

White Fringe Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: small, white, poisonous to humans
Berries: blue to black
Flowers: pinkish white
Flowers: fragrant, white clusters
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: american fringe tree, american fringetree, fringe tree, fringetree, north american fringe tree, white fringetree