Snowberry Facts
Snowberry Facts
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| Interesting Snowberry Facts: |
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| Snowberry is densely branched shrub that can reach 3 to 6 feet in height. |
| Snowberry produces rounded or oval leaves. They usually have entire edges or 1 to 2 lobes at the base. Leaves are dull green colored and oppositely arranged on the branches. Bottom side of young leaves is hairy. |
| Snowberry develops small, greenish-white or pink, bell-shaped flowers. Inner parts of petals are covered with hairs. Flowers can grow solitary, arranged in pairs or dense clusters (in the form of spikes) at the end of the branches. |
| Snowberry blooms from May to September (most plants reach the peak of flowering from June to July). Flowers attract bees that are responsible for the pollination. |
| Fruit of snowberry is round, berry-like drupe. Fruit has spongy flesh and two, egg-shaped seed. It ripens from September to November. Berries can be pink, red and blackish purple colored, but most species of snowberry produce white fruit. |
| Snowberry propagates via seed and division of rhizome. Seed retains ability to germinate even after 10 years of dormancy. |
| Scientific name of the plant "Symphoricarpos" originates from Greek words "symphorein" which means "to bear together" and "karpos" which means "fruit". Name refers to densely packed berries on the branches. |
| Snowberries contain alkaloids that are toxic for humans. Vomiting and dizziness are first signs of intoxication. |
| Snowberries remain on the branches almost entire winter and serve as an important source of food for the quails, grouse, pheasants and bears. Rabbits and mice eat stem, while elks and white-tailed deer feed on the leaves of snowberry. Fruit-eating animals facilitate dispersal of seed. |
| Many birds and small mammals use snowberry as shelter or as an ideal place for nesting. |
| Branches of snowberry were used for the manufacture of brooms and arrow shafts in the past. Hollowed-out twigs were used as pipe stems. |
| Native Americans used fruit of snowberry as a natural shampoo (due to foaming properties of this plant) and to accelerate digestion of fatty meals. |
| Crushed snowberries are used as natural lotion for the hands in the Russia. |
| Infusion made of snowberries can be used in treatment of sore, watery eyes. Fresh snowberries can soothe burns, rash and sores on the skin. Root and stem can be used in treatment of urinary retention, tuberculosis, venereal diseases and fever associated with toothache. |
| Snowberry is perennial plant that can survive more than 40 years in the wild. |
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