FNPS Plant Database
Chiococca alba
snowberry
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Nomenclature
Common Name:
snowberry
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Chiococca alba
Family:
Rubiaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
shrub
Size:
to 10 ft tall and 10 ft wide
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
yellow
Fruit Color:
white
Phenology:
evergreen; blooms and fruits year-round
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Background plant somewhere between a shrub and vine in character.
Considerations:
Weak, needs support. Can be aggressive in the home landscape.
Availability:
Propagation:
seed
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms).
Soil or Other Substrate:
Loam, Lime Rock, Sand
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
9A, 9B, 10A, 10B, 11
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology
Wildlife:
Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.
Larval host for the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi) and Snowberry clearwing moth (Hemaris diffinis).
Attracts a variety of pollinators.
Native Habitats:
Coastal hammocks, pine rocklands, coastal flats, disturbed forest edges.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Flower Friday: Snowberry (blog post). 2018. https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-chiococca-alba/ , accessed 2025. Florida Wildflower Foundation, Maitland, FL.
Huegel, Craig N. 2015. Native Florida Plants for Shady Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Nelson, Gil. 1996. The Shrubs & Woody Vines of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Pineapple Press, Sarasota.
Workman, Richard W. 1980. Growing Native: Native Plants for Landscape Use in Coastal South Florida. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc.: Sanibel, FL.
