Symphoricarpos alba |
Native Region: Pacific Northwest.
Zone Range: 3-9
Preferred Climate: Semi sun; well draining average soil.
Harvest Date: Sunday 30 October, 2011
Seed count: 25-30
Description:
Lovely deciduous subshrub to 2 meters. Lobed blue green leaves. Many small pink bell like flowers appear mid spring and are much loved by hummingbirds. White berries have the size and consistancy of mini marshmallows which are winter food for Varied Thrush.
Notes:
Another native plant that grows everywhere on our property, but is rare or endangered in other parts of North America! Can grow in massive colonies via runners. Drought tolerant. Young plants grow quickly, but become bushy and multistemmed at maturity.
Cultivation:
Soak seed 24 hours. Sow 4 mm deep, tamp medium. Keep moist. Seed requires 5 months warm stratification followed by 120-160 days cold stratification. To reduce warm stratification time, scarify seed by firmly rubbing seed between your hands with coarse sand for 20-30 seconds. Use a catch plate for any material that may fall. Soak and sow (described above) or let nature do the stratification work by sowing in late Spring for germination the following.
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