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.
This information about Symphoricarpos mollis displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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