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Symphoricarpos mollis (Creeping Snowberry) - A deciduous sub-shrub typically growing to only 1 foot tall but slowly spreads by rhizomes to form 3 to 4 foot wide patches with attractive soft rounded light green leaves on reddish stems. Pink flowers, few to a cluster, appear in late spring and are followed in summer by globbose white berries.
Plant in cool coastal sun or shade in most any soil (tolerates clay) and water little to occasionally. Cold hardy to at least 0 °F. The flowers are visited by hummingbirds and the fruit is eaten by some birds, though this is noted as a last resource as these berries have compounds in them that make them taste like soap. Some list this fruit as edible though the the presence of saponins makes them unpalatable. A great accent or groundcover shrub for the woodland garden that goes well with ferns, Currants, Coral Bells and other plants that make up the dry woodland setting.
Symphoricarpos mollis naturally inhabits woodland hills and mountain slopes of the Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and mountains of Southern California, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands where it is often found growing on north slopes, in ravines, and sometimes in full sun close to the coast. The name of the genus is from the Greek words 'symphorein' meaning "to bear together" and 'karpos' meaning "fruit" in reference to the clustered fruits. The specific epithet is the Latin word for smooth and references the smooth or soft foliage. Most often called the Creeping Snowberry for the slowly spreading rhizomes, though other common names include Southern California Snowberry, Dwarf Snowberry and Trip Vine.
The information displayed on this page about Symphoricarpos mollis is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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