Full List of Fruits Snow berry
Introduction of Snow berryMedicinal Uses of Snow berryCulture and AdaptionCultivationPropagation
Snow berry
Scientific name - Symphoricarpos albus
The leaves of the Symphoricarpos plant have a circular shape, with a length of 1.5-5 cm, as a whole or also found with a maximum of two lobes in the basal end, Their flowers are small size wise, changes to pink from greenish-white , mostly in small groups totaling up to 5-15, single or also in doubles in a few like S. microphyllus, the fruits are visually pleasing with a diameter of 1-2 cm having a soft texture which are found in many colors, they are found white in S. albus, pink in S. microphyllus, red in S. orbiculatus and blackish purple in S. sinensis, the berries are white in color which when cut out is similar to admirable, shining granular snow, the pulp is found to have a spongy texture with hard seeds which are white in color with a length of 2-5mm, the seeds resemble the eggs in its shape, mildly flat having an endosperm and also an embryo which is small in its size and also they are found to be firm, strong, water-resistant thus making the germination process very tedious and also capable of being inactive for a period of 10 years, a mild crack is produced when they fall on hard ground.
The infusion made from the stems is taken to solve the complications of stomach problems and menstrual disorders, the decoction produced from the leaves aid in curing cold. The fruit is eaten raw, prepared as infusion also heals diarrhea, the infusion made from the fruits utilized for cleaning eyes to treat eye sores. The fruits are used for massaging in the areas of burns, rashes, itches and also sores to heal them also the poultice prepared from the smashed leaves, fruits and bark helps in curing burns, sores, cuts, chapped and also repaired skin. The infusion made from the roots helps in a speedy recovery from fevers mainly childhood fevers, stomach ailments and also colds. The decoction made from the bark’s root helps in a quick rehabilitation from the venereal disease and bring back the normal urine flow. The infusion prepared from that of the entire plant is taken orally as well as put on the skin for healing skin rashes. The root and stems decoction aids in solving the problems of improper urination, venereal disease, tuberculosis and fevers related to teething sickness.
Suitable to be domesticated in a normal, average moisture levels, perfectly drained soil fully exposed to sun and partial shades too. The fruit production is at its peak only when fully exposed to sun, they can grow in many types of soils also in a poor soil too. Pruning is required in the winters end till starting of spring, these plants produce suckers.
The plants need to be exposed in sun all time for best growth rate rather than that of shady places, the plants root are robust in nature and their roots penetrates deeply thus aiding in making the banks stable and firm. The fruits, roots, stem and the leaves of the plant must not be taken raw since they are poisonous.
The growth rate is slow height wise, there are chances of widening if left undisturbed. The suckers must be pruned at regular intervals because they have give an unpleasing look and does not seem to look like a bush, in some cases they seem to be intact and are found to be in circles pruning is necessary for size but not for the shape, the bushes are sheered at times but at times not for constructing hedges it depends on the person.
The leaves are initially dark green in color having a circular shape and after maturity turns out to be maple shaped leaves, this characteristic found to be amazing similar to that of the berries pulp which is snow-white, the round as well as the lobed leaves are found in the branches starting from spring till fall. The flowers are pink and white in color in the shape of a bell, small in its size, the buds develop in the month of May start to bloom in the ends of June and July, the plants branches filled with flowers in the end of September.
The fruits ripen in the month of August and also in the month of October, the leaves are dried up in the months of November and start to fall, the berries snow white in color stay on the plant till the winters end, the shrubs turn out to be decoration for winter gardens.
The seeds are mostly sown immediately after it ripens in the cold climatic conditions, the seeds must be stored for 3 months in the hot climatic conditions and later for 5 months kept for cold stratification. After the plants are big in size the seedlings are pricked out and separated into separate pots and are grown in the green house only for the plants first winter. The plants are allotted their permanent places at the end of spring and at the starting of summer following the last frosts, the partially ripened woods cuttings are gathered in the months of July or August too. The fully grown woods cuttings with a length of 15-25 cm accompanied by heel are applicable for sheltered bed outdoors during winter, maximum separation of the suckers occurs only in the winter season, these plants can be domesticated directly into their permanent allotments.
