Commonly known as ‘Snowberry,’ recent breeding work has transformed the berries of Symphoricarpos into a range of candy-like colours. Attractive flowers appear from midsummer and berries are formed from late summer onwards. The flowers are a great source of nectar for pollinators – the crop is always a favourite for bees and butterflies – but this plant is primarily grown for its wonderful round berries. These remain on the plant into the winter, long after the leaves have dropped.
Symphoricarpos is a medium-sized suckering shrub. It makes a dense plant that can be grown as a standalone plant, or used as a more unusual hedging option where it can be enjoyed over a long period.
How to grow SymphoricarposFlowering time: from June onwards, with berries formed from mid-August and held well into the winter months. Location: best planted as part of a hedge or shrubbery. Soil: thrives in most soils, although it does not like wet soil. Light: full sun to light shade. Water: water well when planting until established. Care: requires little to no maintenance. Can be pruned to reduce height in spring if required. Symphoricarpos spreads by dropping suckers which you may want to remove as they appear. Beware – pruning after flowering will remove the berries. Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK. Size: 1.5m x 1m Warning: Berries are poisonous if eaten. |
Symphoricarpos ‘Magical Galaxy’, ‘Magical Sweet’ and ‘Magical Candy’ are cultivars of Symphoricarpos x Doorenbosii, ‘White Hedge’, and varieties within the small genus of Symphoricarpos shrubs in the family Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle). Most species are native to North America, except for one species that originates from central China. The Magical Series. All varieties of Symphoricarpos in the ‘Magical’ series have bell-shaped, pinkish or white flowers and two-seeded berries, with ‘candy’ tones. The most popular of these is S. albus (Magical Galaxy), which produces clusters of white berries along delicate stems and oval leaves.
For garden and nature lovers, the Symphoricarpos ‘Magical’ series provides impressive colour and structure along with late summer flowers. They keep giving through winter, adding colour to borders.
It is a fantastic plant for anyone creating a wildlife-friendly garden. The flowers are highly sought after by bees, butterflies and other pollinators, the leaves can provide food for caterpillars and the berries can be eaten whole by birds, especially finches, who will remove the pulp to gain access to the seeds. As it matures, the thicket can also help provide good cover for smaller mammals.
Where can you find the Symphoricarpos ‘Magical’ series?
At Hillier Garden Centres, you can find a range of Symphoricarpos varieties including the ‘Magical’ series. We grow these on our own nurseries in Hampshire, using our more than 155 years of growing expertise to nurture our plants, giving them the best scenario to thrive. We grow around one million top-quality plants each year on our nurseries, which are sold at our 18 Hillier Garden Centres and online at hillier.co.uk, along with everything else you need for your garden.
About Hillier Nurseries
Here at Hillier Nurseries some things never change and, since 1864, growing the very best quality plants has remained at the heart of all that we do, as we look to inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future. Over the years, Hillier has been responsible for numerous plant introductions, many of which have become essentials in British gardens and continue with the tradition of innovation and the introduction of new garden plants in the present day. Hillier are also the most successful exhibitor in the history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, having been awarded 74 consecutive gold medals.
We are immensely proud of our network of 18 Garden Centres across the south of England, where our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you get the best from your home and garden, sharing our plant expertise. Visit us any time to browse the best plants of the season, garden accessories, home and giftware or for a freshly prepared meal in one of our Hillier Restaurants.
We know that plants bring great benefits to the environment, but we know as a business that there is always more that can be done, and we continually look at how we can make improvements. In order to better measure our environmental performance, in 2018, Hillier Nurseries joined The Planet Mark. In the second year of carbon footprint reporting and certification to The Planet Mark, we are pleased to have seen a carbon footprint decrease of 15.1% across our business. To learn all about how we strive to improve our impact on the environment, visit hillier.co.uk/environment/.
Garden centres: https://www.hillier.co.uk/garden-centres/ | Environment: https://www.hillier.co.uk/environment/ | Shop: https://www.hillier.co.uk/
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