This short-lived prairie plant spreads by underground rhizomes to form large colonies, and so is sometimes used for erosion control. This shrub is also a successful colonizer of disturbed sites. Although hummingbirds are the main pollinators, flower nectar and pollen are attractive to bees, flies, ants, butterflies, and moths. Plants are also a source of food, cover, and nesting sites for birds, small mammals, and browsers. The white berries can be poisonous to humans if eaten.

Flower Colour:

• White

Flowering Season:

• Spring
• Summer

Flowering Months:

• August
• July
• June
• May

Canadian Rarity Status:

Not rare. Listed as “exotic” in Ontario.

Physical Appearance:

The woody, reddish-brown, branching stems of this small shrub grow 30-100 cm tall. They are hairy, have shredding bark, and persist over the winter. The opposite, stalked leaves are oval to egg-shaped with smooth to sparsely-toothed edges and hairy undersides. White, bell-shaped flowers occur in small clusters in the upper leaf axils. Their tubular bases flare out forming five lobes. Fruits are fleshy, white, berry-like drupes, drying to bluish black in winter.

Similar Species:

Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake), Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium L.)

Gardening Notes:

Seeds and/or plants may be available from greenhouses and seed supply companies specializing in native plants. Makes a good addition to bird and prairie gardens.

Canadian Distribution:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Northwest Territories
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

Prairie Types:

• Fescue Prairie
• Mixed Grass Prairie
• Tall Grass Prairie

Habitats:

• Forests
• Prairies
• River Valleys
• Rocky Slopes

Moisture Conditions:

• Dry
• Moderate

Light Preference:

• Full Sun

Soil Preference:

• Sand