Snow white berry - the ideal plant for megacities

Snow white berry is a plant belonging to the family of honeysuckle, the genus Symphoricarpus. His homeland is the west of North America. In one place can grow for decades without harming the flowering and fruiting. Perfectly tolerates gas pollution and smoke, it has been planted since ancient times near parking lots and gas stations.

Snow white shrub is a fast-growing shrub whose branches reach a height of 1.5 m. The root is so abundant that, if allowed, it will quickly master several meters in diameter. Its shoots are thin, vertical or slightly inclined. The root system is dense, but superficial. The leaves are opposite, they have a simple ovoid-rounded shape with integral edges. Their length is about 6 cm, the color of the upper side is green, the lower one is bluish. In the autumn they do not change color for a long time and stay on the shoots.

Blooms from July to September, campanulate, greenish-pinkish, small, nondescript flowers, collected in dense racemose inflorescences, located at the ends of shoots. They are of interest to bees. On the shoots can be both flowers and fruits. Berries are white globular wax, in diameter slightly less than 1 cm, inedible. They have an unpleasant taste, are not poisonous to adults. However, children may cause vomiting, dizziness, and Sometimes a syncope. Berries keep on shoots throughout the winter, giving a bushy look. Here it is, white snow white. The photo shows it, as well as the possible use of its original, long-lasting decorative form of fruit.

Snowy-fruit bushy (so sometimes it is called) - a plant unpretentious, winter-hardy, drought-resistant. It can adapt to any soil, including stony soils. Equally well grows in sunny places and in partial shade. The adult plant does not need watering, but it is sensitive to soaking.

Perfectly tolerates pruning of shrubs. Snowflake in the first 2 years of life grows to 1 m, bloom and fruit begins in the third year. Surprisingly, many people often can not remember what flowers look like, even if they pass by this plant every day. But the fruits do not go unnoticed. It is for their sake that bushes are grown. Sprigs with berries can be used in compositions of dried flowers.

It is not difficult to propagate white snow white. This can be done by dividing the bush, lateral offspring (shoots), green cuttings and seeds. If the latter option is selected, the seeds will require stratification. They can also be planted during the winter. The place needs to be chosen so that in the hot period there is a partial shade. Sowing is best done in October, not greatly deepening the material. Before frosts it is desirable to sketch leaf litter, and later snow.

Snow white can be used as a hedge; Bushes grow rapidly and form dense thickets. Cutting out too much, it is easy to control the width of the plantations. It looks great both in solitary planting and in compositions with other plants. Can be grown under trees, forming a beneficial contrast with their green foliage.

Plant on your site (and if it is not, then near the house) snowy white, cold in winter, it will delight the eye with berries, bringing the spring closer.