Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) grows in open woods at low to mid elevations of the west & central Gorge. It makes a nice garden plant & is drought tolerant. While the berries are thought to be poisonous, there's no actual evidence & they don't taste good anyway. Native ...

Americans used a decoction of the branches as a diuretic & to treat gonorrhea. The juice of berries was used to treat sore eyes. The slender twigs were bound together to make brooms or brushes, & larger ones for arrows. Modern research has found phenolic compounds in S. albus ...