Symphoricarpos mollis aka Creeping Snowberry

Symphoricarpos mollis is a low shrub that spreads. It belongs to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Its common names include creeping snowberry and spreading snowberry. Mountain snowberry is another name. It grows in mild parts of western North America. Sources differ on where its native range ends. Kew lists California, Nevada, and northern Baja California in Mexico. Oregon State gives a wider range, from British Columbia southward. It also lists Washington, northern Idaho, and the Coast Range.

This shrub sheds its leaves and grows near the ground. Oregon State gives a height of about 1.5 feet (0.45 metres). Virginia Tech gives 2 feet (0.6 metres). Its trailing branches reach 3–6 feet (0.9–1.8 metres) long. These lengths do not tell us the full-grown plant's width. Stems can take root where nodes touch the soil. Nodes are points along the stem. This lets the plant spread across the ground. Its low shape suits planting near ground level, not for height.

The thin bark is tan to grayish brown. Young twigs are thin and yellow-brown. They sometimes have fine hairs. Their pith, or core, is hollow. Branches grow in pairs on opposite sides. The leaves grow in opposite pairs on the stems too. Each leaf is simple, with one blade. Its shape is oval or round. Leaves are about 0.04–0.08 feet (0.013–0.025 metres) long. They are green above and paler beneath. Fine hairs cover both sides of most leaves. Leaf edges may be smooth or have lobes. Both types can grow on the same plant.

Small flowers shaped like bells bloom in early summer. They are pinkish-white. They grow in small groups at the branch tips. Each flower has both male and female parts. Round, waxy white fruits follow the flowers. They often grow in groups of three to five. These fruits look like berries and can last well into winter. Their pale color adds interest once the leaves fall. Virginia Tech says the fruit is not edible and is toxic. Do not eat these fruits as berries.

Oregon State calls for sun or part shade when growing it. It lists cold hardiness to USDA Zone 5. The sources give no set soil or water needs. They give no pest or disease details for this species. The low stems and long-lasting white fruit stand out most in gardens.