| Symphoricarpos | |
|---|---|
| |
| Common snowberry (S. albus) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Dipsacales |
| Family: | Caprifoliaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caprifolioideae |
| Genus: | Symphoricarpos Duhamel 1755[1][2] |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Symphoricarpos, commonly known as the snowberry, waxberry, or ghostberry, is a small genus of about 15 species of deciduous shrubs in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. With the exception of the Chinese coralberry, S. sinensis, which is indigenous to western China, all species are native to North and Central America. The name of the genus is derived from the Ancient Greek words συμφορεῖν (sumphoreîn), meaning "to bear together", and καρπός (karpós), meaning "fruit". It refers to the closely packed clusters of berries the species produces.[4]
Snowberry is a resilient plant able to withstand a variety of conditions. Their deep roots allow them to survive dry seasons, and they have been known to grow in a variety of soil types such as light sandy soil, medium loamy soil and heavier clay soil.[5] Snowberry plants are most commonly found low-to mid elevations, in forests, dry or moist openings, rocky hillsides or near riverbanks and streams.[5] Snowberry plants are also able to grow in a wide range of acidic and basic pHs and sunlight conditions.[5]
- ^ "Genus: Symphoricarpos Duhamel". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1998-09-18. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ "Symphoricarpos". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ Jones, George Neville (1940). ""A monograph of the genus Symphoricarpos."". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 21(2):201-252.
- ^ Everett, Thomas H. (1982). The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture. Taylor & Francis. p. 3271. ISBN 978-0-8240-7240-7.
- ^ a b c "Symphoricarpos". Plants For A Future.