Side by side
Beautyberry or snowberry? How to tell them apart
Callicarpa bodinieri · Symphoricarpos albus
How to tell them apart – beautyberry: shrub that is hung in autumn with clusters of small, glossy purple berries, like beads along the bare twigs; snowberry: larger, white berries and small, round leaves.
How do you recognise them?
- Beautyberry
- Shrub that is hung in autumn with clusters of small, glossy purple berries, like beads along the bare twigs.
- Snowberry
- Dense shrub with small, round leaves and white berries that pop when you step on them.
- Compared with beautyberry: larger, white berries and small, round leaves.
| Beautyberry | Snowberry | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, 5–12 cm, elliptic with a long pointed tip, finely toothed, softly hairy underneath; bronze when young, pink to purple in autumn. | Opposite, 2–5 cm, round to oval, untoothed (sometimes lobed on vigorous shoots), blue-green. |
| Flowering | Small lilac flowers in dense clusters in the leaf axils, in July–August (July–August). | Small pink bells from June to September, busy with bees and bumblebees (June–September). |
| Fruit | Glossy violet berries (3–4 mm) in dense clusters, from October until well into winter; not edible. | White, spongy berries (1–1.5 cm) that hang on into winter; poisonous. |
| Bark | Greyish-brown, upright twigs. | Thin, brown twigs that peel in strips. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 1.5–3 m | Shrub, 1–2 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal | Sun to shade, any garden soil, dry to wet |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, naturalised |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | Yes, for bees |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | March–April | February–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Snowberry is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
Read on
- Plant profile: Beautyberry
- Plant profile: Snowberry
- Beautyberry: when and how to prune
- Snowberry: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.