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.



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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:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Nice blog article by Florida Wildflower Foundation.

Citations:

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



Institute for Regional Conservation.  Accessed 2021.  Natives for Your Neighborhood.  https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Chioalba



University of Florida.   FPS124/FP124: Chiococca alba Snowberry (ufl.edu)


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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