Magic Berry Coralberry

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a formal appearance, shear annually after flowering. Pruning time: early spring.

Native, snowberries are essential to North American wild landscapes because they naturalize so well. A superbly beautiful addition to wildlife habitat gardens as a late season food source for many species. Improved color and form has boosted them into high status in traditional shrub borders for late season interest. Plant as a low informal hedge or arrange in irregular groupings. A fresh new candidate for foundation planting. Add to any garden for a ready supply of colorful cut berry sprays for autumn decorating.

Snowberry works well with other northern natives in wild or tame garden settings. Pair with Apple Serviceberry, Witch Hazel, American Cranberrybush, Hyssop, Bunchberry and Potentilla. Offset the beautiful blush berries with fall colored foliage plants like Dogwood, Northern Highbush Blueberry and Deutzia.

Symphoricarpos are native to North America and were first improved by the breeding work of G.A. Doorenbos in the 1940's. The native habitat runs from Nova Scotia to Alberta, south to Minnesota and Virginia and in the western North America from Southwestern Alaska to Southern California. Snowberry is a member of the Honeysuckle family and got its name from the inside of the fruit which looks like snow when broken open. Virtually all Native American tribes within its range used this plant as a medicinal for treating a wide variety of illnesses from upset stomach to eye inflammation. It is warned that ingestion of the berries could cause mild illness and is not advised. Magic Berry has a really interesting parentage being a hybrid between S.albus var. laevigatus (Common Snowberry), S.orbiculatus (Coral Berry) and S.x chenaultii (hybrid between S.microphyllus and S.orbiculatus).