The snowberry or firecracker is one of the ornamental shrubs that thrive in almost every garden. The shrubs often grow wild at the edges of forests. In the garden they are suitable for bird hedges or as individual plants under trees or in shady locations.

The firecracker originally comes from North America

The snowberry or firecracker: a profile!

  • Botanical name: Symphoricarpos albus
  • Common names: cracker pea, cracker pea bush, cracker berry
  • Family: Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
  • Origin: North America, now native to Europe
  • Distribution: Europe, except southern Europe, especially Great Britain and Germany
  • Varieties: numerous breeds
  • Height: 30 to 200 centimeters, some varieties up to 300 centimeters
  • Width: 150 to 180 centimeters
  • Leaves: green, entire, 4 - 6 centimeters long, yellowish autumn colour
  • Flowers: Bell-shaped single flowers, up to 6 mm long, white-pink
  • Fruits: mostly white, occasionally pink or red round berries
  • Flowering period: from May to September continuously
  • Ripening time: from summer to winter
  • Propagation: creeping shoots, seeds, cuttings
  • Use as: solitary shrub, hedge, underplanting of trees
  • Poisonous: The berries are slightly poisonous
  • Hardiness: absolutely hardy, deciduous
  • Special feature: ecologically valuable (birds, bees)

Hardy, easy to care for and disease resistant

Snowberries don't need a lot of sun, nor does the soil need to be very nutritious. Maintenance is also limited. Fertilizing and watering is only necessary for freshly planted snowberries. Older plants can do without any care.

Occasional pruning serves to bring the fast-growing shrub into shape.

Snowberries are very rarely affected by disease. Rather, aphids can become a problem. However, they can be combated quite well with lye from soft soap, (44.90€) nettle broth or tansy tea.

Snowberries tend to overgrow

Snowberries spread quite quickly in the garden via the underground shoots, especially if the soil is very dry.

You should remove the creeping sprouts regularly so that the firecracker does not overgrow too much.

Popular varieties of snowberry

  • Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus laevigatus): White berries
  • Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus): Red berries
  • Low Purpleberry (Symphoricarpos chenaultii): White and red berries
  • Pink snowberry (Symphoricarpos doorenbossii): Pink to purple berries

tips

The firecracker has only been cultivated in Europe since the 19th century, but has settled in here very quickly. The berries were once used as an emetic and laxative. However, this is not advisable because of the toxicity.

Category:

Vegetable garden