Snowberry planting and care in the open field in the Urals

The snowberry shrub combines 15 plant species. It got its name from the elegant feature of one of them - snow-white placers of berries on thin, curved branches. There are so many berries that it seems as if the bush is covered with snow.

The Snowberry Symphoricarpos is a deciduous shrub of the Honeysuckle family. America - Central and North - natural habitat of fifteen different species.

And the species Symphoricarpos sinensis is rooted in China. The direct translation of the name from Greek will be "located next to" and "fruit". Quite a reasonable name, because the berries have grown tightly in the clusters. They remain on the branches all winter and serve as a lump for wintering birds: pheasants, hazel grouses, quails and other birds. In park plantings, the shrub has been grown for two centuries.

Description of the snowberry

Flowering of a snowberry white photo how the flowers of a snowberry look like How does a snowberry blossom photo

Snowberry, there is a similar name - snow berry, is described by the following characteristics:

• height 0.2 - 3 m, branches are thin, flexible;
• leaves are oval, 1 - 1.5 cm, on a short petiole, strictly opposite, at the base there is a pair of lobes;
• flowers are placed on the tips of branches or in the axils, collected in inflorescences up to 15 pieces, pale tone - white, pink or red, flowering period - July, August;
• fruits - juicy drupes, diameter 1 - 2 cm, placed very tightly, ripen alternately, the color of the berries is white, sometimes red or dark purple, the fruits of the snowberry are not edible, they are poisonous to humans, emit cotton when crushed.

Landing in open ground

You can not be puzzled by the choice of a place for a shrub, it fulfills any design ideas. An attractive quality is unpretentiousness.A snow berry will grow in the sun and in a thin shade, in arid and humid soil, on a flat area and on a slope (by the way, it will perform anti-erosion functions).

Plant a snowberry in spring or autumn... A prerequisite is the advance preparation of the soil. If you plan to plant in the fall, then a month before that, and if in the spring - then from the fall. This condition is imperative, especially on loamy or clayey soils.

If your landscape solution is a hedge, then a 40 cm wide and 60 cm deep trench is required. Seedlings for a hedge are suitable for two to four years old, place them in a trench in one line (for example, under a stretched rope) at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. When placing in solo or in small groups, maintain a distance of 1.2 - 1.5 m, a square pit is suitable - 65x65 cm.

Prepare the following supplements in advance (for each plant):

• dolomite flour - 200 g;
• wood ash - 600 g;
• superphosphate - 200 g.

The landing technique is as follows:

• 30 minutes before planting, it is better to dip the roots of the seedling shallowly into a clay mash so that the plant is saturated with water;
• on the bottom of a pit 40-45 cm deep and 0.5-0.6 m in diameter, a 5-cm layer of fine gravel is laid to ensure drainage;
• soil mixture is poured from above - river sand, peat, humus or compost, also additives;
• we deepen the seedling so that after the soil subsides, the root collar is at ground level;
• it is advisable to compact the earth with your palms around the trunk, so that in the end there are no voids left (they contribute to the drying out of the roots);
• the first week after planting, daily watering is required.

Conditions for growing a snowberry

To be honest, there are no special rules for caring for a snowberry. You don't have to look after him at all. However, if you devote a couple of hours a month to this plant, then the bush will look smarter and neater.

What would a snowberry like to get?

1. Mulch from peat or humus in the trunk circle (5 cm layer);
2. Loosening the soil after rain (to a depth of 8-10 cm);
3. Removing weeds (as needed);
4. Watering in dry summer (1 - 1.5 buckets for each bush about once a week);
5. For the winter, the trunk circle should be dug to a shallow depth, up to 10 cm;
6. Some varieties require shelter (burlap, straw, coniferous branches);
7. In the spring, it is advisable to feed (5 kg of humus, 100 g each of potassium salt and superphosphate);
8. Top dressing in summer (10 g of Agricola per bucket of water);
9. Sanitary and decorative trimming.

Snowberry transplant

When it becomes necessary to transplant a snowberry, you need to do it carefully, without damaging the root system. The bush grows a powerful root, the radius of the feeding circle of the bush is at least 70 cm, so you need to carefully dig up the plant, having previously dug it at a specified distance.

The transplant itself is carried out according to the same rules as the initial planting and is easily tolerated by the plant if we properly protected the root from damage.

Forming and pruning a bush

After the snow melts, even before the sap flow, it's time to put the bush in order. What to remove:

• dry knots;
• damaged branches;
• dense thickets are thinned out;
• viable branches are cut in half or quarter;
• branches in the required shape of the bush.

The snowberry very easily tolerates this procedure, and on thick, adult branches, the cuts are sealed with garden var.
Young plants need to be cut off more often, this stimulates the growth of lateral shoots, otherwise we will not get a bush, but a tree.
It is necessary to observe an adult bush - if you notice signs of degeneration (small leaves and flowers, frail shoots), then it is time to prune on a stump, leaving the branches at a height of half a meter above the ground. In the same season, the anti-aging measure will show itself 100% - a beautiful young growth will cover the bush.

Disease Resistance Snowberry Plant Video

Another plus in the snowberry's piggy bank is disease resistance.Fungal infections are common, so it is rare to see signs of powdery mildew or gray rot of fruit. Then you should treat the bush with a fungicide solution (any of the modern ones - Topaz, Fundazol, Quadris, Skor, Topsin or another antifungal drug). In order to avoid such situations, it is necessary to regularly sanitize in the spring with a solution of Bordeaux liquid, prevention is better than treatment.

Pests often bypass the bush. But ... Aphids are very fond of young shoots and attack them in May. A simple folk method of struggle is ash treatment before rain. It will rain and wash away the pest along with the ash. If it does not help, then you will have to carry out chemical treatment.

Planting a snowberry seed

Snowberry seeds photo

Like any plant, a snowberry can be propagated by seed. The process is laborious and lengthy, but possible. First of all, you need to prepare the seeds from the berries. Gently soften the berries, squeeze the pulp through a stocking or double gauze, shake the rest in a jar of water.

Drain the pulp with water, dry the seeds. If necessary, store in a paper bag or cloth bag. They need to be sown before winter, just not in open ground, since small, light seeds can float away with the snow.

• The seeds are sown in a box with soil, then they are covered with a layer of sand, only then they are put out on the street, covered with sawdust or dry foliage.
• Seeds will sprout in the spring, and maybe next spring.
• As soon as the sprouts get stronger and release 2-3 true leaves, they should be transplanted into separate containers.
• During the germination period, the substrate must be moistened. Watering is carried out through a pallet or from a finely dispersed spray bottle.
• Seedlings are understood quickly, when the growth is 10-15 cm, the plants are hardened for two weeks and planted in a permanent place.
• The bush will bloom in the third year.

A greenhouse is required for spring sowing. Fill a box or pot with an earthen mixture and sow seeds in early spring.

Seedling of a snowberry from seeds photo

The following procedures can help to improve germination:

• soaking seeds in water;
• stratification - keeping seeds in a mixture of sand and peat at 0˚C all winter;
• scarification - deliberate damage to the hard shell of the seed to facilitate germination.

When seeds germinate, they need moisture. Young shoots should be shaded and protected from drafts. You can dive seedlings in June after the appearance of several real leaves.

Vegetative propagation

Simpler methods are vegetative, they are common among gardeners:

1. Root shoots

Over the years, abundant root shoots grow from the root of the bush, forming whole clumps around the plant. Dig up one of them - here is the planting material. By the way, such an operation is necessary, it saves the bush from thickening.

2. Layers

Making a seedling from a young branch is simple: bend a branch, fix it in a dug groove, sprinkle with nutritious soil, water, loosen the soil around and in the fall we have planting material. We will separate the cuttings from the mother bush with the pruning shears and transplant them to a permanent place of "residence".

3. Cutting of a snowberry

Snowberry propagation by cuttings how to propagate a snowberry

Lignified cuttings can be cut in autumn, the cutting should contain at least 3-5 buds, so a length of 10-20 cm is sufficient. The cut under the lower bud is oblique, and above the upper one - even. The cuttings are stored in a cellar, immersed in wet sand. Green cuttings are cut on a summer morning when the snowberry has faded. Only ripe shoots are suitable for cutting (they break with a crunch). These cuttings are immediately placed in water.

The petioles must be rooted. Place them in a box with a mixture of peat and sand, as for seeds, to a depth of 4-5 cm. The box should be in a warm and humid environment. By autumn, the seedlings will have built up a root system and will be ready for planting in the ground. They should be covered with leaves for the winter.

4. Dividing the bush

Refers to laborious processes because the bush must be dug up, but for an adult plant this is not an easy task. Having coped with this process, you need to divide the bush into sections, process the cut points with coal. Plant the rags in the usual way.

Snowberry wintering

Snowberry bushes are surprisingly hardy. Even the most sophisticated hybrids can withstand frosts below 30˚ C. Only young plants and seedlings require shelter. To do this, carefully press the branches to the ground and pin them with metal forks, cover with spruce branches or straw, leaves, any available organic material, or use spunbond.

Types of snowberry with photos and descriptions

Snowberry white Symphoricarpos albus

Snowberry white planting and care photo Symphoricarpos albus

The species that gave the name to the entire genus. It also has the names of the snowberry carpal or brush. In its natural environment, it loves the banks of rivers and mountain slopes, it is found in the forested part of North America. Has a spherical crown due to thin curved branches. The height of the bush is about 1.5 m. The leaf is oval, grows up to 6 cm, smooth along the edge, has a green color on top, and a gray-gray below. Small pink flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences located along the entire length of the shoot. The flowering period is long, the bush immediately has flowers and berries - 100% decorative. Berries are on the bush almost all winter, until the birds eat them completely.

This type is popular due to its unpretentiousness and frost resistance. It has been used in park culture since 1879 for hedges, curbs. In the past, the Indians used berry juice as a medicine, but the berries are inedible. If used accidentally, signs of poisoning cannot be avoided: vomiting, nausea, dizziness. Among the varieties of the white berry, gardeners are attracted by the white, low-glittering snow berry.

Snowberry pink, snowberry common or rounded Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, coralberry, Indian currant

Snowberry pink description Symphoricarpos Magical Pride Planting and care photos

Grows in meadows and floodplains of North America. The characteristic thin branches bend to form a large hemispherical shrub. The foliage is dark green, grayish on the back. The inflorescences are identical to the white snowberry, the flowers are pink. In autumn, the plant takes on a special decorative effect. Ripening red berries are scattered throughout the branch, a special charm is given to them by a bluish bloom. The reddening foliage also adds brightness to the bush. The winter hardiness of this species is lower than that of the white snowberry, but it can withstand the frosts of the middle lane. Coralberry has taken root in the parks and gardens of Western Europe.

There are two most common varieties:

• Variegatus - a variety with a yellow stripe on the edges of the leaves;
• Taffs Silver Age - the leaves are edged in white.

Western snowberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis

Snowberry western Symphoricarpos occidentalis care in spring photo

Despite the name, it lives not only in the western, but also in the northern, eastern regions of the Northern States. The plant can form dense, one and a half meter thickets near reservoirs, on the slopes of mountains. Lighter foliage is pubescent below. You can observe flowering all summer. Then, from pinkish small bells, balls-berries are formed, tightly pressed together. The color of the berries is also pink or pink-white.

Snowberry mountain-loving Symphoricarpos oreophilus

Snowberry mountain loving Symphoricarpos oreophilus photo

Natural distribution - west of North America. The shrub reaches a height of 1.5 m, the leaves are elliptical, slightly fleecy. Bell-shaped flowers, white or pink, single or paired. The fruit is a two-seeded drupe of white color, as usual - round in shape. Frost resistance is satisfactory.

Small-leaved snowberry Symphoricarpos microphylus

Shrub snowberry small-leaved Symphoricarpos microphylus photo

The southernmost relative of the snowberry (Mexico, New Mexico, Guatemala). You can meet him in the mountains, even at an altitude of 3.2 km. Tall view (up to 3 m). Shoots are heavily pubescent. The leaves are dark green, lighter on the inside, pubescent or not. Flowers and berries are white with a pink tint.

Snowberry soft Symphoricarpos mollis

Snowberry soft Symphoricarpos mollis planting and care Photo in the garden

Average height - 1.5 m, creeping.Very bright flowers - pink or purple. The berries are large (1-2 cm), white, sometimes turn pink on one side.

Chenault's Snowberry Symphoricarpos x chenaultii = Chenault's Snowberry

Snowberry Chenot Symphoricarpos x chenaultii planting and care Photo and description

Hybrid, descendant of common and small-leaved snowberry. Its characteristics:

• undersized;
• pointed leaves 2-2.5 cm long;
• densely pubescent;
• pink berries with a white barrel;
• does not tolerate frost.
• foliage appears on the bush early and stays on the branches for a long time;
• the color of the leaf is dark green, and the wrong side is gray;
• hemispherical bush (1.5 m high, 1.5 m across);
• flowers - white bells;
• berry color - from white to purple;
• the most successful variety is the Hancock snowberry.

Dorenboz's Snowberry Symphoricarpos doorenbosii

Snowberry Dorenboza amethyst Symphoricarpos doorenbosii Ametyst photo and description

A group of hybrids that got their name from their creator, the Dutchman Dorenboz. The ancestors of these hybrids were the white and rounded snowberry. Distinctive features are neat size and many fruits. You can call this bush modern - a spreading crown, shoots grow rather horizontally, the mass of small flowers on the entire branch looks stylish.

Varieties:

• Magic Berry - the color of the berries is deep pink, the branches are literally covered with berries;
• Maser of Pearl - pearl-white fruits with a pink tint look spectacular against the background of dark green;
• White Hage - a characteristic feature - erect branches that do not sag under an abundance of white fruits;
• Amethyst is a big plus of this hybrid - high cold resistance, otherwise the usual characteristics are a height of 1.5 m, dark dense foliage, white-pink flowers and
  berries.

The healing properties of the snowberry

Most drugs are poisonous in high doses, and so is the snowberry. Small doses of this plant have found application:

• fresh berries are used to heal wounds, cracks in the hands;
• leaves crushed into gruel also treat skin damage, and are also used to treat ulcers;
• a decoction of the bark was used for tuberculosis and venereal infections.

Since the healing properties of this plant have not been fully studied by professionals, the above remedies belong to the ancient Indian, shamanic methods, it is not recommended to experiment with the use of a snowberry. It is not for nothing that the bush has another name - wolfberry. You also need to abandon the planting of this shrub in preschool institutions and on the territory of elementary schools, because children's curiosity can take over and then trouble cannot be avoided.

Growing errors:

• Close-up arrangement of seedlings. The snowberry grows rapidly, creating too dense thickets;
• Lack of pruning, then the shrub looks unattractive;
• Placing Variegatus in a dense shade, then the border of the leaf loses its contrast.

Snowberry bush in landscape design photo

Snowberry photo in the garden Shrub snowberry white in landscape design photo

The snowberry has gained such distribution due not only to its endurance, the ability to grow in almost any conditions, as well as its incredible gas and smoke resistance. These qualities made it possible to apply it not only in park culture, gardening, but also in urban landscaping. The snowberry bush is very dense, it easily tolerates a haircut, so today the snowberry is found as a hedge:

• in parks, squares;
• at residential buildings;
• separates the sidewalk and the highway;
• along the railways;
• near the village houses.

Snowberry as a hedge photo

Also, this plant is perfect for other purposes of landscape designers and gardeners:

• to create inscriptions from plants on the lawn;
• used as a ground cover under large trees;
• dwarf varieties are good for rock gardens;
• to combat soil shedding on slopes;
• as a maintenance-free decorative spot on the lawn (single or group planting);
• for decorative hedges: - monochromatic, for example, mixed with a weaving white rose, - contrasting - with a red one;
• also a late autumn contrast is created by the snowberry and mountain ash planted nearby;
• an elegant snowberry looks beautiful against the background of conifers, especially in autumn, when its leaves are orange;
• it is useful for gardeners to know that the snowberry is an exceptional honey plant.

Pink snowberry in landscape design photo Growing a snowberry

There can be many solutions, go for it and have fun!

Most of the ornamental crops delight us with their beauty only in the warm season. Some of them retain their spectacular decoration during the autumn months. But few plants can boast of such amazing resistance to cold as the snowberry.

Snowberry The bright fruits of this amazing shrub continue to hold tightly to the branches even under a layer of snow. And therefore, the snowberry, in my opinion, can be given the palm for the longest "period of beauty".

Description of the plant

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), also called snow or wolf berry, belongs to the family Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) and is a deciduous shrub with a height of 0.2 m to 3 m. Such a spectacular plant came to us from North America, in the vastness of which 15 species of this culture grow.

Depending on the type, the snowberry can have different heights, and also differ in the various colors of the berries, which are the main decoration of the plant. They come in white, pink, and purplish red.

Snowberry with pink fruits. snowberry white (Symphoricarpos albus) - that's what I want to tell you about.

This densely leafy shrub reaches a height of 1.5 m. It has small elliptical leaves of a dark green color and flexible shoots that easily withstand the onslaught of the heaviest snow cover.

Small bell-shaped flowers of a snowberry do not shine with special beauty. They are colored white or pale pink and are collected in groups in the axils of the leaves and at the ends of the shoots of the bush. The snowberry bloom occurs in the second half of summer and lasts about a month.

Blooming white snowberry.

The fruits of the white snowberry This plant has long been appreciated by landscape designers and is widely used for landscaping parks and squares. The snowberry firmly endures the gas pollution of a crowded metropolis and, content only with precipitation and a meager diet of urban soil, continues to delight passers-by with its beauty.

And if a snowberry falls into the caring hands of a gardener, who will plant it on a garden plot and give a little of his attention, then it will be transformed beyond recognition. With good care, the shrub annually gives a powerful increase, pleases with dense foliage of rich color and gives an incredibly plentiful "harvest" of snow-white fruits. This handsome man will act as an ideal plant for creating a hedge, and will also look great in a group planting with other ornamental crops.

Snowberry in the garden.

Growing

In addition to its high decorativeness, the snowberry will delight you with its unpretentious care. This shrub is absolutely not picky about the composition of the soil on the site, but, like many plants, it will grow better on loose, fertile soil. Therefore, at the planting stage, it makes sense to work a little and properly prepare the soil in the selected area. But you can select absolutely any place for planting a snowberry - both sunny and shaded.

Snowberry is an unpretentious plant.

Landing

Seedlings of this culture are sold today in almost every garden center.They can be planted in open ground both in spring and autumn, for this purpose it is better to choose bushes at least two years old. For spring planting, the pit must be prepared in the fall, and if an autumn planting is planned, the procedure is carried out at least a month before planting the plant.

Snowberry seedlings in the nursery.
If you want to create a hedge out of a snowberry, you need to dig a trench 0.4 m wide and 0.5-0.6 m deep along the entire length of the planned site. For each running meter, you will need to plant 4-5 seedlings. With a single planting, a hole for a bush is prepared with a size of 0.6x0.6 m and is located no closer than 1.2-1.4 m from other plantings.

In a trench or pit, you must first lay out a layer of broken brick or expanded clay for drainage, if the soil on the site is heavy clay. Then a mixture is poured, composed of equal parts of humus, peat and coarse sand. In addition, you need to add 200 g of superphosphate, 100 g of potassium sulfate and 0.5-0.6 kg of wood ash (for trench planting, such fertilizers are applied under each seedling).

The hedge of their snowberry.

On our website you can visit the market, which contains offers for the sale of snowberry seedlings of different varieties, as well as other ornamental and fruit shrubs.

Care

Freshly planted plants should be watered daily for the first week. And the bushes rooted and accustomed to the new conditions will no longer require such anxious care. If the summer is hot, they need to be given 1.5-2 buckets of water 1-2 times a week. If it rains regularly, you can completely forget about watering.

Snowberry - a drought-resistant plant Snowberry will be grateful for additional feeding. To do this, in the spring, it makes sense to add half a bucket of humus to the trunk circle of the bush, in the summer months to feed it once with a solution of any complex mineral preparation, and closer to autumn, fill the soil with 100 g of superphosphate and 50-70 g of potassium sulfate. With this approach, the shrub will actively develop and produce a large number of beautiful fruits every year.

To increase the comfort of a plant in your garden, you need to regularly loosen the soil in its near-stem circle, remove weeds and dig up the soil under the bushes to a depth of 8-10 cm in autumn.This crop does not require protection from diseases and pests. It is extremely rare that it is affected by powdery mildew or gray rot of fruits - they can be easily cured with permitted fungicides (Topaz, Skor, Quadris, etc.).

The snowberry is resistant to diseases and pests.

Snowberry in winter Snowberry tolerates formative pruning incredibly easily, so without fear, grab the pruner and trim unnecessary shoots. This procedure is best done in early spring before bud break. At this time, it is necessary not only to form a beautiful crown, but also to cut out all frozen, dried and thickening shoots.

After eight years of age, a snowberry may need rejuvenating pruning - old bushes are less actively growing annual shoots and therefore often lose their former crown density. The plant needs to be stimulated with drastic measures, that is, cut off its entire ground part to a height of 0.5-0.6 m, leaving several well-developed shoots.

The snowberry easily tolerates a haircut After the procedure, all sections with a diameter of more than 0.6-0.7 cm are covered with garden pitch. Such pruning helps to awaken the dormant buds on the left stumps, which will soon give powerful shoots and allow the formation of a new lush bush crown.

Reproduction

This unpretentious culture surprises with its ability to breed easily. The snowberry can be propagated by seeds if desired. To do this, in late autumn, you need to collect a handful of ripe berries, extract seeds from them, rinse them and dry them a little.Planting small seeds directly into open ground is fraught with the fact that they can "swim away" from the required depth under the influence of precipitation. Therefore, they are sown in a box with a light fertile substrate and "poured" on top with a small layer of sand.

The container is covered with glass and is left on the street or balcony for the whole winter, and brought into the room in the spring. The seedlings that appear are grown throughout the warm season, and closer to autumn they are planted in open ground in a permanent place.

Snowberry fruits contain small seeds It is much easier to get new lush bushes by digging out the right amount of root growth from an adult plant. By the way, root suckers in large quantities are formed in the near-stem circle of any snowberry and often outside it, which requires the gardener to take "taming" measures. Young seedlings with a well-developed root system are planted in a new place in a pre-prepared planting pit or trench.

This culture in autumn or early spring can be propagated by dividing an adult bush into parts - each division with well-developed shoots and roots easily takes root in a new place. However, the following difficulties may arise: the root system of an adult snowberry is quite powerful and spreads within a radius of more than 1 m from the center of the bush. Therefore, in order to obtain high-quality planting material, you will need to dig in the plant no closer than 0.7-0.8 m from its center.

An adult snowberry has a strong root system.

Also, this spectacular shrub can be propagated by cuttings. Lignified last year's shoots are cut into cuttings in early spring, green cuttings are obtained in early summer, cutting off the young growth of the current season.

Green cuttings are carried out in June.

Types and varieties

Among the various types of snowberry in our climatic zone, the most popular is the white snowberry, which is also called with. carpal or with. cystic. The wide distribution of this shrub is no coincidence - the plant has the highest frost resistance compared to other representatives of the culture, and therefore it develops well in different parts of our vast homeland.

Snowberry white is the most frost-resistant species. snowberry white weakly branching (Symphoricarpos albus var.laevigatus). This shrub has the same snow-white fruits, but differs in pink color of flowers and thinner and longer shoots.

Inflorescences of white, weakly branching snowberry. common snowberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus), also referred to as c. rounded, coral and Indian currants. A distinctive feature of this species is amazing pink inflorescences and catchy purple-red berries, covered with a thick bluish bloom.

Common snowberry.

In the varietal line of the rounded snowberry, it is worth highlighting a delightful shrub called ‘Taff’s Silver Age’ with a white border on the leaves, as well as a hybrid 'Variegatus'characterized by spectacular yellow-green foliage.

Snowberry is an ordinary hybrid 'Variegatus'. western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) is a beautiful densely leafy shrub up to 1.5 m high. This species stands out for its unusual leaves - on top they have a smooth surface, and on the bottom covered with "felt" pubescence. Unusual pubescence is also present on its pretty bell-shaped flowers, in the place of which numerous white or pale pink berries are later formed.

Western snowberry inflorescences. mountain-loving snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus), reaching a height of 1.5 m and distinguished by beautiful oval leaves of a rich green hue, bell-shaped flowers of a white or pinkish hue and snow-white berries. This species has an average winter hardiness, but with additional shelter it perfectly tolerates our harsh winters.

Dorenboz snowberry variety 'Mather of pearl'. The variety will look very attractive in the garden. 'Magic Berry'... This shrub is incredibly beautiful during the flowering period, when it is buried in bright pink flowers. It is no less effective during abundant fruiting: purple-red fruits appear in the place of inflorescences.

The fruit of the Dorenboz snowberry of the Magic Berry variety. 'Amethyst', reaching a height of 1.5 m. During the fruiting period, it is impossible to take your eyes off it - the branches of the bush are strewn with fruits-beads of a whitish-pink hue. Adds to it advantages and increased frost resistance in comparison with other varieties of Dorenboz snowberry.

Dorenboz snowberry ‘Amethyst’ variety.

Snowberry is an ornamental shrub from the honeysuckle family that can grow in shaded areas. The very name of the plant speaks of the close arrangement of the fruits, because in translation from the Latin language, the snowberry means "the fruits located nearby." A very interesting appearance to the shrub is given by snow-white berries, which persist even after all the foliage has fallen out and gracefully bend down the thin shoots of the plant.

Shrub species

In the territories of Central and South America, there are almost all varieties of this ornamental bush that grow in the wild. But in our climatic zone, not all take root.

Snowberry white

Snowberry white

The shrub is very popular and one of the most undemanding plants, which has been cultivated since the 19th century.

Snowberry white is characterized by yellowish-gray thin branches that form a hemispherical crown, hanging down to the very ground. In early spring, the buds turn into bluish-green foliage, whose shape resembles an egg, and the length of one leaf is, on average, about 5-6 cm. The leaves of a white snowberry have an even edge, with small lobes.

Flowers of a greenish-pink color have a bell-shaped shape, small in size and tighten in the axils of the foliage. The flowering process is very long, begins in early July and lasts until September. In mid-August, small round-shaped fruits appear, which can persist even in winter.

The white snowberry is very unpretentious to the composition of the soil and can calmly delight the owners of plots with calcareous or stony soil. In addition, the white snowberry perfectly tolerates the lack of moisture in the dry season, grows well in the shade or partial shade.

Strong and non-bending branches are great for forming a hedge, which attracts the attention of landscape designers or simply gardeners for decorating a garden.

Chinese snowberry

Symphoricarpos sinensis is the only plant species that cannot be found in the wild in Central and South America and is native to the western provinces of China.

A distinctive feature of this ornamental bush is its fruit, which has a dark almost black color.

Snowberry pink

Snowberry pink

The pink snowberry owes its name to the fruit of a pink or purple hue. The shrub is very common in Western European gardens and is slightly less common in Russia and the CIS countries. In its homeland, in the territories of North America, the plant is called "Indian currant" or "coral berry".

The pink snowberry has dark green, rounded leaves and delicate shoots that sink strongly to the ground at an early age. The color of the berries has a purple-pink hue, and the size, for the most part, does not exceed 0.5-0.6 cm.

This type of snowberry is inferior in terms of frost resistance to its relative - the white snowberry, but it still found its fans for growing in domestic conditions.

Snowberry Chenot

Snowberry Chenot

The ornamental shrub is a hybrid of pink snowberry.It quickly gained popularity, because its small size allows it to perfectly tolerate negative temperatures.

Pink berries are unsuitable for human consumption, but they are excellent honey plants. The foliage has a pointed shape, and the shoots are very long and easily take root.

Doorenboz's Snowberry

Dorenboz's Snowberry

The Doorenboza Snowberry has long won the sympathy of both landscape architects and lovers of beautiful plants in the garden due to its chic appearance.

The ornamental shrub was bred by breeders from Holland.

However, the Doorenboza snowberry does not tolerate frosts very well, therefore, in order to admire first the beautiful flowering, and then also the wonderful pink berries in the next spring-summer period, the bushes must be covered for the winter.

Landing

The snowberry bush should be planted in pre-prepared holes, 50-60 cm deep. In order for the seedling to take root faster and begin to grow, a mixture of humus, sand, and peat should be added to the fertile soil. It is also useful to add a small amount of components such as superphosphate, dolomite flour or wood ash, which will increase the concentration of useful trace elements that are so necessary for young seedlings. Do not forget that the snowberry, like almost all plants, should be buried along the root collar, no more.

Snowberry white in single planting

If a shrub will be planted as a single plant or as an element of a plant composition, it is worth considering that the spreading area of ​​the branches of an adult plant, on average, takes about 1-1.3 m² (it all depends on the type of shrub). In order for each plant to receive the required amount of sunlight, they should be placed at a distance of 1 meter.

Snowberry hedge

A snowberry is great for creating a hedge, and with proper formative pruning and proper care, seedlings turn into a full-fledged living fence in 4-5 years. To organize a hedge right now, it is best to use already relatively mature plants that are at least 3 years old. If the length of the required green fence is quite long, it is most logical to use an excavator that will dig a trench with the required depth of 50-60 cm much faster than preparing holes for each plant by hand. The snowberry should be placed one per 1 linear meter. After planting the seedlings, it will be useful to walk and check how tightly the earth is compacted.

Snowberry care

Watering the bushes of the snowberry should be quite abundant and best of all in the evening, when the sunlight is not so hot. The norm for watering mature plants is considered to be about 20 liters of water per 1 m². If the site is equipped with an automatic irrigation system, then you should choose drip irrigation, because with the rotors, it is mainly the foliage that is watered, and not the root system. And also do not forget to periodically feed the plants with various mineral fertilizers, which contribute to rapid growth and a brighter appearance.

Snowberry pruning

The shrub should be pruned in early spring, while the buds have not yet blossomed. During this period, the shoots should be shortened either by 1⁄2 or 1⁄4 part. In the process of pruning, you must be very careful not to "chick" too much, as some can form buds.

From time to time, an adult plant needs sanitary pruning. Overly thickened, old, broken and dried branches should be removed, and the cut itself should be lubricated with pitch. Do not be afraid to cut off the excess, because the crown will receive more oxygen, young shoots more nutrients, and the shrub itself will recover quite quickly.

Ornamental shrubs that have reached 7-10 years old, characterized by short shoots and rather small leaves and flowers, need rejuvenating pruning.At a height of about 50 cm, the branches should be completely cut off, and old or damaged ones should be removed altogether. In just one season, dormant buds will give life to young shoots.

Read more about Pruning Ornamental Shrubs

Video "Unpretentious plants for the garden - a snowberry"

Snowberry diseases

The shrub is very resistant to damage from various pests or diseases.

The main danger lies in the appearance and development of gray rot on fruits or powdery mildew, which is a consequence of overmoistening of the snowberry. In the fight against such diseases, a solution of calcined salt will be excellent, to which a little laundry soap should be added.

As a preventive measure, dendrologists recommend using 3% Bordeaux liquid, which is sold in gardening stores.

Snowberry breeding methods

Snowberry in the garden

Ornamental shrubs can be propagated in 5 ways: by dividing the bush, using seeds or cuttings, as well as by layering and root shoots.

Root shoots

Root shoots, for which the snowberry is so rich, is not only able to give one more plant, but also helps to save the shrub from strong thickening. It is thanks to its dense and large curtains that the bush from time to time independently expands and "moves" around the backyard territory. The shoots should be transplanted in early spring or in the autumn months.

Dividing the bush

Reproduction of a snowberry by dividing a bush allows you to immediately get an adult plant. The transplantation process should be carried out in the spring, while the buds have not yet set, and in the fall - only after leaf fall.

Layers

Layers - adventitious roots and shoots from lateral buds, which are formed after hilling the bush. The shoot should be taken into a specially prepared ditch and then secured with wire. A buried shoot of a snowberry will take root and become an independent shrub.

Cuttings

Snowberry reproduces well by cuttings. Cuttings should be taken in early June, when the plant has completely bloomed. You need to cut off large and fully developed shoots from a snowberry, which is not yet 8-9 years old. Cuttings must be placed in water or a solution that stimulates growth, for example, "Kornevin" for several hours, and then planted in a container with nutrient soil. The planting hole should be about 0.5-1 cm. Planted shoots develop better in greenhouse conditions with regular moderate watering, and in the fall, when the root system develops and becomes sufficiently stable, cuttings can be safely planted in open ground.

In order to increase the survival rate, it is best to cover the seedlings from winter frosts with spruce branches or foliage.

Seeds

When propagating a snowberry with seeds, you should stock up on a lot of patience and have enough free time.

Snowberry berry and seeds

The seeds must be prepared - they must be well peeled and the fruit pulp removed. It is best to carry out the procedure in a small bowl of water, as the seeds settle at the bottom, and the pulp stays floating on the surface. After cleaning, the seeds must be thoroughly dried, and then sown in boxes with well-fertilized soil. The sowing itself should be done superficially, with a small dusting of the earth.

Watering is regular, but rather careful, as there is a high risk of washing the seeds out of the soil. To add acceleration, seeds can be stratified. After the root system of young shoots gets stronger, they can be carefully transplanted into open ground.

Snowberry is a very unpretentious plant with a rather interesting appearance, and its berries are too beautiful to be edible. Due to the ability to perfectly take root in shaded areas and not entirely fertile soils, ornamental shrubs are in great demand in garden landscape design.

The deciduous shrub snowberry (Symphoricarpos), either wolfberry or snowberry, is a member of the honeysuckle family. This plant has been cultivated for at least 200 years, while it is used to decorate squares and parks. This genus unites about 15 species in the wild, native to North and Central America. However, 1 species occurs naturally in China - this is Symphoricarpos sinensis. The name Snowberry is made up of 2 Greek words meaning "to gather together" and "fruit". So this shrub was named because its fruits are very tightly pressed against each other. The snowberry has one distinctive feature - its fruits, they do not fall off throughout almost the entire winter period, and the seeds of these berries are eaten with pleasure by quails, hazel grouses, waxwings and pheasants.

Features of the snowberry

The height of the snowberry can vary from 0.2 to 3 meters. Its entire, oppositely located leaf plates have a rounded shape and a short petiole, they reach 10–15 mm in length, and there are 1 or 2 lobes at the base. In winter, the branches do not break under the weight of the snow, as they are very flexible. Terminal or axillary racemose inflorescences consist of 5-15 pieces of regular red, white-green or pink flowers. This shrub blooms in July or August. The fruit is a succulent drupe of spherical or ellipsoidal shape, which reaches 10–20 mm in diameter. The fruit can be colored violet-black, red, but often white, the inside of the stone is oval, compressed from the sides. The pulp of these berries looks like shiny grainy snow. These berries should not be eaten. This shrub is a good honey plant.

White (brush) snowberry is very popular among gardeners, as it is highly resistant to gas and smoke. A hedge from such a shrub looks especially impressive. This plant with pink berries prefers to grow in regions with mild winters and black soil, while it develops worse in cool climates.

Planting a snowberry in open ground

What time to plant

The snowberry is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. For its cultivation, a shaded or well-lit place, with dry or wet soil, is suitable. If this shrub is planted on a crumbling slope, then it is able to stop further destruction and erosion, thanks to its dense root system. It can be planted in open soil in autumn or spring, and at the same time it must be remembered that the soil on the site should be prepared in advance.

Landing features

In the event that you want to create a hedge, then seedlings that are 2-4 years old are suitable for you. Along the line of the designated hedge, you need to pull the twine and already along it it is necessary to dig a trench 0.6 m deep and 0.4 m wide. 4 or 5 seedlings should be planted per 1 running meter of the trench. You can also plant a shrub solo or create a group planting, while a distance of 1.2 to 1.5 m should be observed between the plants.With such a planting, the size of the planting pit is 0.65x0.65 m.

A planting hole or trench should be made in advance. If planting is carried out in the fall, then it will be necessary to prepare the landing site 4 weeks before the day of disembarkation. For planting in the spring, the place is prepared in the autumn. If the soil on the site is clay or loamy, then special attention should be paid to the preparation of the site for planting, the fact is that before the day of disembarkation, the earth in the pit should settle. A layer of rubble should be laid at the bottom of the pit, and a nutritious soil mixture consisting of peat, river coarse sand and compost (humus) should be poured onto it, while fertilizers should be added to it, for example, 0.6 kg of wood ash is taken per 1 bush, 0 , 2 kg of dolomite flour and the same amount of superphosphate.It is necessary to plant a seedling so that after compaction of the soil and its subsidence after abundant watering, the root collar of the plant is at the level of the soil surface. However, before proceeding with the direct planting, the seedling itself should be prepared; for this, its root system is immersed in a clay mash for 30 minutes. The planted plant must be provided with daily watering during the first 4 or 5 days.

Caring for a snowberry in the garden

The snowberry is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and does not require special attention from the gardener. However, if you take care of him even a little, then he will have a very neat and attractive appearance. After the seedling is planted, its near-stem circle must be covered with a five-centimeter layer of mulch (peat). It is necessary to systematically loosen the soil, remove weeds in time, feed, cut, water. Also, do not forget to pay attention to protecting the snowberry from pests. The shrub should be watered only during prolonged drought. Watering is carried out in the evening, while 15–20 liters of water are poured under 1 bush. In the event that it rains regularly in summer, then this plant will not need watering. It is best to loosen the soil or weed after watering or rain. In autumn, the soil near the bush should be dug up.

In spring, the snowberry should be fed by adding 5 to 6 kilograms of humus (compost) to its trunk circle, as well as 0.1 kilograms of potassium salt and superphosphate. If this is necessary, then the second feeding is arranged in the middle of the season; for this, a nutrient solution is used, consisting of 1 bucket of water and 50 grams of Agricola.

Transfer

If there is a need to transplant a snowberry, then you should hurry up. After the bush has a powerful root system, it will be very difficult to carry out this procedure. Such a shrub quickly and easily adapts to a new place. The transplant is carried out in the same way as the initial landing and at the same time. In order for this procedure to end successfully, it is necessary to dig out the bush in such a way that its roots are injured to a minimum. The radius of the root system in an adult snowberry is on average 0.7 to 1 meter. Therefore, you should dig in the bush, stepping back at least 0.7 m from it.

Pruning

Pruning does not harm the snowberry. It is best to carry out this procedure at the very beginning of the spring period, while sap flow has not yet begun. All injured, dried out, damaged by frost, disease or pest, thickening and too old branches should be removed. Those branches that remain must be cut by ½ or ¼ part. You should not be afraid to prune, since the laying of flower buds occurs on the shoots of this year. It should also be noted that after a shearing, the snowberry recovers very quickly. If the cuts on the branches exceed 0.7 cm in size, then do not forget to process them with garden pitch. A shrub that is over 8 years old needs rejuvenating pruning, as its foliage and flowers become smaller and the stems grow short and weak. Such pruning is carried out "on a stump" at a height of 0.5 to 0.6 m. During the summer period, new powerful stems will grow from the dormant buds present on the remains of the stems.

Diseases and pests

Such a plant is highly resistant to diseases and pests. And this is most likely due to the fact that this plant is poisonous. Very rarely, powdery mildew can disturb this shrub, and rot sometimes appears on the berries. For preventive purposes, in early spring, before the buds swell, it is necessary to process the bushes with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (3%). In order to cure an infected plant, it should be treated with a fungicide, for example: Fundazol, Skor, Topsin, Titovit Jet, Topaz, Quadris, etc.

Snowberry breeding

Such a shrub can be propagated in a generative (seed) way and vegetatively: by layering, cuttings, dividing the bush and root shoots.

How to grow from seeds

Growing a snowberry from seeds is a rather laborious and time-consuming process. But if you want, you can try. First you need to separate the seeds from the pulp of the berries, then they are folded into a nylon stocking and squeezed well. After that, the seeds must be poured into a not very large container filled with water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed. Then you need to wait until the seeds settle to the bottom, while the pieces of pulp should float. Remove the seeds and wait for them to dry well.

Seeds are sown before winter. This should not be done in open soil, since small seeds in spring can come off along with the snow cover. For sowing, boxes should be used, which must be filled with a nutritious substrate consisting of peat, river sand and humus, which must be taken in a 1: 1: 1 ratio. Seeds must be spread over the surface of the substrate, and then sprinkled with a thin layer of sand. The container must be covered with glass. In order not to wash the seeds, watering should be done through a sump or with a fine spray gun. Seedlings can be seen in the spring. It will be possible to pick seedlings directly into open soil at the end of the season.

How to propagate by root shoots

A lot of root suckers grow near the shrub, they create large and fairly dense clumps. Therefore, this plant is able to actively grow and move from the planting site. Dig out the curtain you like and plant in a permanent place. By the way, this will help prevent thickening of the bush.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

The division of the bush can be done in early spring, before sap flow begins, or in autumn, when leaf fall ends. To do this, an overgrown shrub is chosen, dug up and divided into several parts. Then the delenki are planted in new permanent places, following the same rules that are used for the initial planting. You should pay attention to the fact that each delenka must have strong developed roots and young healthy branches. In the case of the cuttings, it is also necessary to process the cut points on the root system with chopped charcoal.

How to propagate by layering

At the very beginning of spring, you need to choose a young branch that grows near the surface of the soil. It is laid in a groove dug in the ground and fixed in this position, and then covered with a layer of earth, while the top of the layer should not be covered. During the season, the layering must be looked after, as well as the shrub itself, namely: water, feed and loosen the soil surface. By autumn, the cuttings will have to give roots, it is cut off from the parent bush with pruning shears and planted in a permanent place.

Cuttings

For propagation of such a plant, it is recommended to use lignified or green cuttings. The harvesting of lignified cuttings is carried out at the end of the autumn or at the beginning of the spring period. Their length can vary from 10 to 20 centimeters, while each cutting should have 3-5 buds. They are kept in the sand in the basement until spring. The upper cut is made over the kidney, and the lower cut obliquely.

Harvesting of green cuttings is carried out early in the morning at the beginning of the summer period, and this should be done almost immediately, as the shrub fades. Large, mature and well-developed shoots are suitable for cutting. To understand whether a certain shoot can be used as a cutting, a simple test is carried out; for this, it is simply bent. In the event that the shoot breaks and a crunch is heard at the same time, this indicates its maturity. Prepared cuttings should be placed in water as soon as possible.

For rooting, both lignified and green cuttings are planted in containers filled with soil mixture (the composition is the same as when sowing seeds).They can be deepened no more than 0.5 cm. Then the container is removed to a greenhouse or a greenhouse, since high humidity is required for rooting cuttings and at the same time moderate soil moisture. By the onset of autumn, the cuttings should have developed a good root system, they can be planted in a permanent place, not forgetting to cover them with spruce branches or dry foliage for the winter.

Snowberry after flowering

When grown in mid-latitudes, the snowberry does not need shelter. Even its hybrid varieties, which are highly decorative, can withstand frost down to minus 34 degrees. However, if the winter is very frosty, then the plant may suffer, but during the growing season it must recover. If the bush is young, then for the winter it should be highlighted with soil.

Types and varieties of snowberry with photos and names

Snowberry white (Symphoricarpos albus)

This type is considered the most popular, and it has several names, namely: the snowberry is white, either brushy, or carpal. It is found naturally in North America from Pennsylvania to the west coast, with a preference for growing on river banks, open slopes, and mountain forests. The bush can be about 150 centimeters high. This deciduous shrub has a rounded crown and slender stems. The leaf plate has a round or ovoid shape, it is simple, whole-edged or notched-lobed. The length of the leaves is about 6 centimeters, their front surface is green, and the back is gray. Lush, brush-shaped inflorescences are placed along the length of the entire stem, they consist of small light pink flowers. The shrub blooms luxuriantly and for a very long time. Therefore, at the same time, you can admire beautiful flowers and spectacular white fruits, which are a juicy ball-shaped berry with a centimeter diameter. The fruits do not fall from the bush for a very long time.

This plant is very unpretentious and has a high frost resistance. It has been cultivated since 1879. Often, hedges and borders are created from such a snowberry, and it is also used for group plantings. The berries of this plant cannot be eaten, they contain substances that, getting inside the human body, cause weakness, dizziness and vomiting. This species has a variety that is quite popular among gardeners - a white, slightly shiny snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus var.laevigatus).

Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)

This species is also called pink, or round, or coral. And where this species comes from, it is called "Indian currant". In nature, this shrub grows in North America on river banks and in meadows. Such a snowberry has a large bush with thin stems and small dark green leaves, which have a bluish seamy surface. Short lush inflorescences consist of pink flowers. Quite impressively, such a shrub will overcame in the autumn, it is at this time that red-purple or coral berries of a hemispherical shape begin to ripen on the stems, which are covered with a bluish bloom, while the leaf plates turn purple.

The common snowberry does not have high frost resistance compared to the previous species. But at the same time, it overwinters quite normally when grown in the middle lane. This plant has gained high popularity in Western Europe, the Taffs Silver Age variety, which has a white edging on the leaf plates, is in special demand here, as well as Variegatus - an uneven pale yellow strip runs along the edge of the leaves.

Western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

This species is from the western, eastern and central regions of North America. It creates thickets along streams, rivers and rocky slopes. The bush is about 150 centimeters high.The front surface of the leaf plates is pale green, while on the seamy there is a felt pubescence. The short and dense, brush-shaped inflorescences consist of light pink or white bell-shaped flowers. The shrub blooms from the first days of July to the last - August. Then soft fruits of an almost spherical shape appear, which are painted in white or light pink.

Mountain-loving snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus)

Originally from the western regions of North America. The bush can reach a height of 150 centimeters. The shape of the weakly pubescent leaf plates is round or oval. Single or paired bell-shaped flowers are painted white or pink. Inside the spherical white berries there are 2 seeds each. Possesses average frost resistance.

Chenot's Snowberry (Symphoricarpos x chenaultii)

This hybrid was created by crossing a small-leaved snowberry and an ordinary snowberry. Not very tall bush has dense pubescence. The length of the sharp leaf plates is about 25 mm. Fruits are pink with white cheeks. Has a relatively low frost resistance.

Chenaultii Snowberry (Symphoricarpos x chenaultii)

This hybrid plant has a height of one and a half meters, its crown diameter is also 1.5 m. The front surface of the leaf plates of a bright dark green color, while the wrong side is gray. The foliage grows very early, while it stays on the branches for a long time. The inflorescences consist of pink flowers. The berries are rounded, they can have a color from purple to white, stay on the bush for a relatively long time. The most successful variety is the Hancock snowberry.

Dorenboz's Snowberry (Symphoricarpos doorenbosii)

This is a group of hybrid varieties that were created by the Dutch breeder Doorenbos. He got them by crossing a rounded snowberry with a white snowberry. Varieties differ among themselves by the abundance of fruiting and compactness:

1. Mather of Pearl... Elliptical leaf plates are dark green in color. The berries are white with a slight blush.
2. Magic Berry... The shrub bears fruit very abundantly. Its branches are covered with deep pink berries.
3. White Hage... On an upright, dense bush, there are small white fruits.
4. Amethyst... It has a very high frost resistance. The height of the shrub is about 1.5 m. The color of the leaf plates is dark green, and the nondescript flowers are light pink. The pink-white berries are round in shape.

In addition to the species that are described here, the following are cultivated: round-leaved, small-leaved, Chinese, soft and Mexican.