What soil does Common snowberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Common snowberry hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Common snowberry toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

How far from the house should Common snowberry be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Common snowberry be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 3 plants per metre.

When does Common snowberry flower?

Flowering: May–September, pink, white.

How much water does Common snowberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

What should I plant instead of Common snowberry?

We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species. For a similar purpose we recommend: Blackthorn, Chinese flowering quince, Common lilac, Coralberry.

Common snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade, shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Mildly toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €8.90. We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species.

Illustration of Common snowberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A deciduous shrub from North America, 1 to 2 metres tall, with thin arching branches. Bees visit its tiny pinkish flowers in summer, and the snow-white berries that give it its name stay on the bare stems for months. It is sold because it is undemanding: it grows in sun or shade, in poor dry soil and in city air. However, it suckers into a dense, spreading thicket, escapes from gardens and is officially an invasive species, so we do not recommend it for gardens; its berries are also mildly poisonous.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

Officially an invasive woody plant. It spreads mainly underground: by suckers and by branches that root, it builds a larger, dense, impenetrable colony every year, crowding out neighbouring plants and growing through into the next garden or the woodland edge beside it. Birds also carry the seed, so it turns up away from gardens too, and it survives even in deep shade and dry soil where few other shrubs can. An established thicket is hard to get rid of because it resprouts from root pieces left in the ground. Hungarian Government Decree 282/2024 (IX. 30.) names it in Annex 2 among the invasive woody plants, so it may not be planted, or used as a replacement, on public-use land; the decree does not ban it in private gardens. The decree lists its western variety (var. laevigatus) in the same way, and most plants sold in nurseries belong to that variety. Other problems: powdery mildew, leaf spot, rust and berry rot can occur but are rarely serious; it fruits poorly in shade.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.5 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–September, pink, white

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	1.5 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	1–2 m × 1–2 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–September, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	from about €8.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Blackthorn

Prunus spinosa 3 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A native, very thorny shrub that is covered in white blossom in early spring before the leaves, and one of the best wildlife hedges: impenetrable,…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about €15

Chinese flowering quince

Chaenomeles speciosa 2 m × 2 m after 10 years

A dense, spiny shrub that reaches head height and flowers in early spring before the leaves: depending on the cultivar the white, pink or red blooms…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about €6.90

Common lilac

Syringa vulgaris 3 m × 2 m after 10 years

A large, long-lived deciduous shrub grown for its strongly scented flower clusters in spring. It copes well with sun, heat and limy soil, and with…

Shrub

Full sun

from about €5.90

Coralberry

Symphoricarpos × doorenbosii 1.5 m × 1.8 m after 10 years

This hybrid snowberry is an almost indestructible, dense shrub with arching branches: its tiny, inconspicuous flowers are popular with bees and are…

Shrub

Full sun

Part shade

from about €3.90

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €8.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Looks good next to it

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Saxifraga × arendsii

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Helleborus niger