Mountain Snowberry

Symphoricarpos oreophilus

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Caprifoliaceae
Genus:
Symphoricarpos
Species:
Symphoricarpos oreophilus

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
Pink
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: British Columbia

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Nuttall's buckmoth (Hemileuca nuttalli), Variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, rocky or sandy loam
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
adapted to mountainous and arid regions

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: For seeds: Scarification in sulfuric acid for 30 minutes, stratification for 21 days at room temperature, then stratification at 2 to 5 C for a minimum of 90 days. For cuttings: 5-second quick dip in a 500 ppm IBA/NAA solution, air dry, and stick to a depth of 10 cm. Alternatively, trim cuttings to a 5- to 6-inch length, remove all buds, leaves, and branches from the basal 2 to 3 in. of each cutting, wound the basal end of the stem, and insert into rooting compound.

Establishment: Different protocols suggest both seed and cutting propagation methods. The germination rate for cuttings seems to be slightly higher. Seed collection is done in late summer or early fall, while cuttings are taken from dormant plants in March or from current season's growth in early August.

Source: npn.rngr.net