Chamaebatia foliolosa aka Mountain Misery

Chamaebatia foliolosa is a low, evergreen shrub from North America. It belongs to Rosaceae, the rose family. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Its form is spreading rather than upright and tree-like. Branches sprawl near the ground, forming dense cover on forest floors. The shrub reaches about 3 feet (0.9 metres) in height. Plants stay shorter in places that receive heavy snow. This low growth contrasts with its finely divided foliage.

The leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Each leaf divides twice or three times into smaller parts. This gives the foliage a fine, fern-like look. The leaves measure 0.08–0.25 feet (0.025–0.076 metres) long. Their upper sides are dark green, while their undersides look paler. Sticky glands dot the leaves, which have a strong scent. The plant keeps its foliage rather than shedding it each year. Its leaf structure is compound, despite its resemblance to fern fronds.

Young twigs are green and bear hairs with sticky glands. The gland-covered growth adds another clear feature beyond leaf shape. Bark ranges from reddish brown to gray and stays smooth. These stem traits sit alongside the darker, finely cut foliage. The source describes both bark and young twigs separately. It gives no further account of how bark changes with age.

Flowers appear from late spring into early summer. A few blooms gather together at the tips of stems. Each flower has five white petals around a yellow center. The flowers span about 0.04–0.08 feet (0.013–0.025 metres). Their simple petal shape contrasts with the divided leaves. The fruit is a small achene with one seed. It measures about 0.04 feet (0.013 metres). The botanical description identifies this fruit as an achene, not a berry.

The supplied account places this shrub in a forest-floor setting. It does not give a cultivated width or garden care guidance. No light, soil, watering, or hardiness needs are stated. The evidence also gives no pest or disease details. It does not establish edible uses or safety for people or pets. Those gaps should not be read as proof of safety.