FNPS Plant Database

Chiococca alba

snowberry
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

snowberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chiococca alba

Family:

Rubiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

To 10 ft tall by To 10 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

white

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms and fruits year round.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

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:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for the Miami blue butterfly ( Cyclargus thomasi ) and Snowberry clearwing moth ( Hemaris diffinis ).


Attracts a variety of pollinators.

Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. 

Native Habitats:

Coastal hammocks, pine rocklands, coastal flats, disturbed forest edges.

Natural Range in Florida:

Loading Florida counties…

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Nice blog article by Florida Wildflower Foundation.

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Chioalba ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Gilman, Edward F., Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen. (2023). Chiococca alba (Snowberry). FPS124/FP124. ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP124 ). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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