SNOWBERRY

SNOWBERRY IS A LARGE NATIVE SHRUB...

...WITH BLUISH, ENTIRE LEAVES AND ALMOST INSIGNIFICANT FLOWERS...

THAT ATTRACT,..

BUTTERFLIES....

AND BEAR UNUSUAL WHITE FRUITS IN ABUNDANCE

Sunday, 9:00 AM.  59 degrees F at the ferry dock, 58  on the back porch.  Wind SSW, calm with light gusts.  The sky is clear, the humidity 75%.  The barometer is at 30.33" and beginning to fall gently.  The week ahead is predicted to be in the mid to high 70's, the skies clear for the week ahead until Friday, and the weekend, when there will be cvhances of rain and thunderstorms; gorgeous weather!
   Snowberry, Symphorocarpos albus in the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae) is a large (ovef 6' height and spread) shrub native to much of Canada and the northern and western U.S.  It has opposite, orbicular, blue-green leaves and almost insignificant purplish flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  It bears an abundance of two-seeded white berries that are very attractive (don't eat them, they will make you vomit).
   Snowberry is an important wildlife plant, the branches and leaves for browse and the berries for food.  It will grow in sun or partial shade, in a variety of habitats, from stream banks to forest understory.  It was popular in landscaping a century ago but is less used now, except for restoration work.  It is still obtainable, and I use it fairly often, as it is easy to establish and quite attractive.
   Coralberry, Symphorocarpos orbiculatus, AKA Indian currant, is native to the eastern and southern US, and is a quite similar but smaller shrub, that bears coral colored berries rather than white.  Although quite attractive and valuable for wildlife, it is a suckering plant and best used in wildlife plantings or landscape restoration.  There are some horticultural varieties that are less problematic.