Common snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3 to 5 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade to dappled sun to deep shade. Shade-tolerant native; big white berries through winter. Suckers, good for naturalized areas.
Colorado nativeOn the CSU listlow to medium water3 to 5 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) tomasz przechlewski, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 7
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade, dappled sun, deep shade. Flowers best with more sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Dry shade under conifers
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 3 to 5 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~6 ft apart (4 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Growth rate
- Moderate
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Bloom color
- pink
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Native ecoregion
- foothills, montane
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Things to know before you plant
- Spreads aggressivelySnowberry, suckers extensively, forms thickets
- Messy dropIt drops messy fruit, pods, or litter, so keep it off patios, walks, and pool decks.
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer. Spreads by suckers, give it room or plant where suckers are welcome.
- Fruit: ornamental.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Common snowberry good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Common snowberry is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- What should I know before planting Common snowberry?
- The main things to know: Snowberry, suckers extensively, forms thickets It drops messy fruit, pods, or litter, so keep it off patios, walks, and pool decks.
- How big does Common snowberry get?
- It matures to about 3 to 5 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Common snowberry?
- Space Common snowberry about 6 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 4 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Common snowberry hardy on the Front Range?
- Common snowberry is hardy in USDA 3 to 7. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Common snowberry need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Common snowberry grow?
- Common snowberry is a moderate-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- Is Common snowberry native to Colorado?
- Yes. It is a Colorado native.
- Is Common snowberry deer-resistant?
- Common snowberry is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Common snowberry a good firewise plant near the house?
- Common snowberry is rated 8 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
