Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Laevigatus

The Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus, commonly known as the white snowberry, is a deciduous bush that is highly resistant and originates from North America, naturalized in France. It is a large bush with a natural appearance, light foliage, and is highly suitable for creating low-maintenance flowering hedges or shrub beds. Its main attraction lies in its pearly white fruiting, which enlivens dark areas of the garden and provides food for birds during winter. This snowberry produces numerous suckers, allowing it to quickly occupy the area. It thrives almost anywhere, making it a virtually fail-proof plant.

The Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, just like honeysuckles. This hardy deciduous bush is native to the western part of North America. Introduced in the early 19th century, it easily naturalized in Europe. It is a border plant that thrives in temperate and cold climates and can tolerate almost any conditions, except for arid situations. This snowberry even tolerates salt spray and urban pollution. It is used in urban landscaping, for example, to stabilize slopes along roads.

The white snowberry laevigatus forms a bushy, ramified bush, reaching an average size of 2 meters (7 feet) in all directions (up to 2.50 meters (8 feet) in height), with rapid growth. Its branches are slender and slightly arched. Its foliage consists of small oval-rounded leaves, measuring 2 cm (1in) in length, with a green-blue color on the upper surface and a lighter green on the lower surface. The lamina is glabrous, unlike what is observed in the Symphoricarpos albus. Flowering occurs from June to August, in the form of small bell-shaped flowers with a pinkish-white color, gathered in discreet clusters. After pollination by insects, they give way to numerous small berries, measuring 1 cm (1in) in diameter, with a pearly white color and a spongy texture. They persist on the branches from September to January. These berries are slightly toxic if ingested, but are highly appreciated by birds.

Symphoricarpos are known for their robustness and beautiful winter fruiting. The white snowberry laevigatus is ideal for greening difficult areas of the garden, adding a rustic yet elegant touch. It is appreciated for its ability to thrive in both shade and sun, its simplicity, and its beautiful pearly white fruiting. Plant it in a free hedge or in a shaded and bare corner of the garden, for example, under a large tree. To accompany it, consider white spireas, shrubby honeysuckles, physocarpus, guelder rose, which are equally accommodating and easy to grow.