Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus – Póirín sneachta

Snowberry is native to North America and is commonly found growing on hedgerows, woodland, roadsides, riverbanks and older gardens. It was introduced in Ireland to act as game cove and has become established. It is also widespread in Northern Ireland.

Snowberry

Distribution

(National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland, Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), image, accessed 05 July 2022)

Species Recorded: 

Snowberry (Symphoricarpus albus)

Invasiveness rating:

Classified as a low impact invasive species by the Irish National Biodiversity Centre. Not a Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.

Status:

Established

Identification: 

  • Snowberry can be classified as a shrub or bush growing to 2-3m in height.
  • It is easily identifiable in Autumn by its white, waxy berries.
  • Leaves are round and generally 1.5-5cm long.
  • Snowberry flowers from June to September with small, bell-shaped pink flowers.

Reproduction: 

  • Snowberry reproduces by seed and from root fragments or suckers which can spread rapidly to form dense thickets.
  • Seeds are also dispersed by birds that eat the fruits.

Impacts:

  • Grows rapidly and can colonise areas quickly.
  • This spreading shrub displaces native species.
  • Berries are poisonous to humans.

Treatment:

  • Mechanical: Snowberry can be excavated and moved to a deep cell on site or to a licensed waste facility.
  • Chemical: Snowberry can be treated by foliar spraying with herbicide or by drilling the base of the plant and applying herbicide into drill holes in April / May, this will be followed up with a second treatment in August. This treatment will have to be repeated on a yearly basis for 4-5 years.

More photos: 

No items found.