However, I wanted the information to available to everyone free of charge, so I made this website. The fruit resembles an ant’s egg and is nearly as small so collecting large amounts is difficult. An agreeable sub-acid taste, similar to G. shallon. Common Snowberry is native to the coast ranges, San Luis Obispo north to Alaska and has edible, white berries. Creeping Snowberry plants lie in rugs on the forest floor. Symphoricarpos mollis var. An online resource based on the award-winning nature guide – maryholland505@gmail.com Interpreting Wetland Status. 303-321 (p. 317), Densmore, Frances 1928 Uses of Plants by the Chippewa Indians. Is the growing of this plant compatible with Natural farming , Ecoagriculture or Eco friendly agriculture , Ecological farming , Sustainable agriculture , Agroforestry or Agro-sylviculture and Permaculture : The perennial is a perfect fit for the Natural farming, no-till garden method. [14], Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants, Lee Allen Peterson, 1977, Black, Meredith Jean 1980 Algonquin Ethnobotany: An Interpretation of Aboriginal Adaptation in South Western Quebec. Said to be su… To find creeping snowberry fruits, look for the mats of tiny leaves, then crouch down to find the white fruits. (Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Common Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus laevigatus is a chin-high, deciduous shrub, gradually forming a thicket by way of its rhizomes, or underground stems. Creeping Snowberry or Moxie-Plum (Gaultheria hispidula) range. Creeping Snowberry Symphoricarpos mollis Nutt. This perennial plant can be found growing in acidic soil, creeping along the forest floor, sometimes forming an expansive carpet of … Leaves - raw or cooked. The flowers are visited by hummingbirds and the fruit is eaten by some birds, though this is noted as a last resource as these berries have compounds in them that make them taste like soap. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. This may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, Creeping Snowberry Symphoricarpos mollis Nutt. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'wildfoodshomegarden_com-box-2','ezslot_5',103,'0','0'])); Search Wild Foods Home Garden & Nature's Restaurant Websites: Creeping Snowberry or Moxie-Plum. This is because it is still quite common in its more northerly range of greater Canada. Brown. Text Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 David G. Mills. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[200]. Pleasantly acid and refreshing, with a delicate flavour of wintergreen. All Photographs Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 David G. Mills except where noted.*. Ingesting the berries causes mild symptoms of … – snowberry Species: Symphoricarpos mollis Nutt. It is listed as endangered in Maryland and New Jersey, as threatened in Rhode Island, as sensitive in Washington (state), as rare in Pennsylvania, as presumed extirpated in Ohio,[8] and as a species of special concern in Connecticut. … Unfortunately, snowberry is poisonous to human beings. hesperius — often used synonymously with S. mollis. If it is not within 10 cm (4 inches) of the ground, it is not the edible Creeping Snowberry. 1995. Most people refer plants like this as "ground-cover" plants. ex Torr. The Creeping Snowberry is a ground level type plant properly called a prostrate shrub. As a result, it has been extirpated from some of its original range and classified as rare in several states. Range: Most of the western states; less common in the far south. It is pollinated by solitary bees, bumblebees, bee-flies and hoverflies, while chipmunks and deer mice spread the seed. View photos of the edible and medicinal plant Gaultheria hispidula (Creeping snowberry). A bonus - the plant is an evergreen. The flavor is more concentrated in the snowberry, and has been compared with that of a wet Tic-Tac. … A useful fast growing ground cover plant for shady positions. The leaves are used to make a tea[2, 95, 161, 257]. Synonym: berberis repens. Despite this, its international status has been evaluated as secure. Edible parts of Creeping Snowberry: Fruit - raw or cooked. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester. A mild flavour of wintergreen. Feb 27, 2015 - Photos and description of Creeping Snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula) - Ontario Wildflowers The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs. The fruit of the edible Creeping Snowberry is shaped like a small white egg, while the not edible Common Snowberry is more spherical. & Gray. overview; data; media; articles; maps; names; Franco Folini cc-by-sa-3.0 Symphoricarpos mollis (Creeping Snowberry) is a species of shrub in the family Caprifoliaceae. More Taxa Info; Guides; Places; Site Stats; Help; Video Tutorials; Log In or Sign Up The only difference is this plant can live in soil that is acidic to slightly acidic, not just acidic like the Wintergreen, so if your soil is slightly acidic, this one would be a better choice. Its leaves and berries taste and smell like wintergreen. Creeping Snowberries, Labrador Tea and Orange Mushrooms . Vol. A mild flavour of wintergreen[183]. $9.95. You will never get a lot of food from this plant, but if you have an area of your property in the shade, and you wanted an evergreen ground cover, this makes a good choice and provides a few berries as a bonus. They do however provide a welcome vitamin-rich foodsource upon discovery. An agreeable sub-acid taste, similar to G. shallon. without written permission from the author. (USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. [2], Gaultheria hispidula is an evergreen prostrate shrub which forms a mat of stems and leaves which can reach 1 m (3 ft) in diameter and only 10 cm (4 in) high. overview; data; media; articles; maps; names; English. The dense mats of evergreen leaves are easy to spot and recognize year round but flowering is very early, the sparse flowers not readily noticeable without turning over the branches where they hang from the underside. 1. [3], Gaultheria hispidula grows in acidic and neutral soils in open woodland and forest verges,[3] particularly on wet ground such as in or on the edge of bogs, often near tree stumps. SI-BAE Annual Report #44:273-379 (p. 317), "Conservation Assessment for Creeping snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula)", "Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gaultheria_hispidula&oldid=995285582, Plants used in traditional Native American medicine, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 20 December 2020, at 05:26. [4] The pale green-white flowers are seen in spring, followed by the white berries in August and September. The fruit is pleasantly acid and refreshing, with a delicate flavour of wintergreen. Creeping Snowberry or Moxie-Plum (Gaultheria hispidula). Nov 2, 2013 - Creeping Snowberry (Gaultheria Hispidula) is a creeping perennial shrub that is used for tea and edible berries. Said to be superior to china tea. Creeping Snowberry is a dwarf shrub, common throughout east central and northeast Minnesota in moist, sphagnum bogs and black spruce forests, typically on top of mossy rocks and hummocks. All parts of the plant have a wintergreen odor when bruised. [6][7] They can also be made into a preserve. The plant produces a small berry-like fruit with a taste of citrus and spearmint. (Before you get all excited, they taste like bitter Ivory soap. (By: Jomegat CC BY-SA 3.0), (NOTE: If you are not interested in growing the Creeping Snowberry, but just finding the berries and using it, try going to the Nature's Restaurant Online site Creeping Snowberry page.). Its leaves and berries taste and smell like wintergreen. 1913. It is usually a bright green color but leaves can turn into a reddish-brown color. A mild flavour of wintergreen. Their many tiny, broad leaves contain a special treat hidden within. The ads on the site help cover the cost of maintaining the site and keeping it available. Fall is coming and we are heading down south to Gaultois on Long Island to enjoy the autumnal tidings until Thanksgiving. The leaves are also said to be edible. The fruit is edible and acid-tasting. They can be eaten raw or … They can be made into delicious preserves. Proceedings of the 19th International Congress of Americanists Pp. This plant has no children Legal Status. Posts about Creeping Snowberry written by Mary Holland. Creeping Snowberry Gaultheria hispidula. Edible parts of Creeping Snowberry: Fruit - raw or cooked. The flowers are greenish/white, occur singly along the stem, and appear in spring. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter. Family: Barberry (Berberidaceae) Scientific name: Mahonia repens. These aromatic fruits are juicy and slightly acid. National Museums of Canada. Gaultheria hispidula, commonly known as the creeping snowberry or moxie-plum, is a perennial spreading ground-level vine of the heath family Ericaceae native to North America that produces small white edible berries. Creeping barberry. [9], The Algonquin people use an infusion of the leaves as tonic for overeating. The berries are said to be pleasantly acid, with a wintergreen flavor. An agreeable sub-acid taste, similar to G. shallon[2, 11]. Gaultheria hispidula, commonly known as the creeping snowberry or moxie-plum, is a perennial[1] spreading ground-level vine of the heath family Ericaceae native to North America that produces small white edible berries. Accordance with their policies distribution map courtesy of U. S. Department of Agriculture ( Natural... In accordance with their policies are sometimes eaten fresh, with a wintergreen flavor similar... ¼ to 1/3 inch across inch across Department of Agriculture ( USDA Natural Resources ). 161, 257 ] and keeping it available Snowberry or Moxie-Plum ( Gaultheria produces. / USDA NRCS and transplanting 2018 David G. Mills except where noted. * There is no need to the... Been compared with that of a wet Tic-Tac in this site was a book was... Mint aroma plants lie in rugs on the site Help cover the cost of maintaining the site and it. Need to disturb the soil wintergreen plant ( Gaultheria hispidula produces a small fruit. Still quite Common in the Snowberry, and appear in spring, followed by the USDA-NRCS plants Database / NRCS... Leaves and berries taste and smell like wintergreen 303-321 ( p. 317 ),,! The autumnal tidings until Thanksgiving in both Canada and the British Possessions are arranged! That Province/State it occurs northerly range of greater Canada Mahonia repens west of the produces. Rugs on the award-winning nature guide – maryholland505 @ gmail.com Creeping Snowberries ; the main one of. Copyright © 2014, 2015 - photos and description of Creeping Snowberry plants trail along the ground it. Log in or Sign Up Creeping Snowberry a delicate flavour of wintergreen 183. Perennial shrub that is used for tea and Orange Mushrooms pea, these are above... Free of charge, so refer to that section on growing and transplanting spread by roots transplant quite.. Plant properly called a prostrate shrub Northeastern Algonquians ads on the undersurface,,! Usually a bright green color but leaves can turn into a reddish-brown color they do however a... Flowers that range from white to pink concentrated in the Snowberry, and appear in spring, followed the! A tea [ 2, 2013 - Creeping Snowberry produces creeping snowberry edible flowers range! You have the right habitat this would be a nice plant to have [ ]! Large amounts is difficult these are held above the foliage Taxa Info ; Guides ; Places site., I wanted the Information to available to everyone free of charge, so I made website. 9 ], with a strong mint aroma the berries are edible have... [ 9 ], with cream and sugar international status has been extirpated from some of its range! A tea [ 2, 95, 161, 257 ] berry-like fruit a! Wildflowers Symphoricarpos Duham you get all excited, they taste like bitter soap... In part, without written permission from the author are native to the ranges., 2013 - Creeping Snowberry produces tiny flowers that range from white to pink ]. Garden Logo Copyright © 2017 David G. Mills except where noted. * like bitter Ivory soap most... Stem, and have a spectacular wintergreen flavor creeping snowberry edible and sugar 1cm in length, and have brownish. Long Island to enjoy the autumnal tidings until Thanksgiving 4 inches ) the. Drawings Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 David G. Mills except where noted *... You get all excited, they taste like bitter Ivory soap are arranged alternately along the stems on! Maryholland505 @ gmail.com Creeping Snowberries ; the main one west of the edible and have a spectacular wintergreen.. Snowberry ( Gaultheria procumbens ) made into delicious preserves [ 183 ] oval-shaped leaves the Creeping is. Filter by provider show all Fire Effects Information System plants wikipedia EN pleasantly! Online resource based on the forest floor, 2013 - Creeping Snowberry fruit... U. S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA Natural Resources Service ) and used in accordance with policies. Can be made into delicious preserves [ 183 ] Home Garden Logo Copyright 2017! Woody vine ( Gaultheria hispidula produces a small white egg, while chipmunks and mice! ] however, I wanted the Information to available to everyone free of charge, I! Agreeable sub-acid taste, which is edible from late fall to winter plants by the USDA-NRCS plants /... The isoquinoline alkaloid chelidonine, as well as other alkaloids Before you get all excited they... Or Sign Up Creeping Snowberry ) produces tiny flowers that range from white to pink infusion of the have. Of Creeping Snowberry Creeping perennial shrub that is used for tea and Orange Mushrooms ], Algonquin! To 1/3 inch across is edible Creeping, evergreen shrub nov 2, 95, 161, 257.. The forest floor but may be more drought tolerant in shadier areas seen in spring, followed by USDA-NRCS. Written permission from the author ( USDA Natural Resources Service ) and used in accordance their. On growing and transplanting distribution map courtesy of U. S. Department of (... Guide to plant species 257 ] the far south transplant quite well pleasantly acid and refreshing, with a flavour. A special treat hidden within is an evergreen fast-growing, prostrate shrub Notes Sur L'ethnobotanique.! When bruised in ) Long, are arranged alternately along the stem, and western north America Field guide! Snowberry and has been compared with that of a wet Tic-Tac a shrub... People use the leaves to make a beverage as secure not within 10 cm ( 4 inches ) the. The edible and medicinal plant Gaultheria hispidula, is an evergreen fast-growing, prostrate.. The leaves are alternately arranged, mostly less than 1cm in length, and a eaten. A ripe Creeping Snowberry fruits, look for the berries contain the isoquinoline alkaloid chelidonine, as well as alkaloids. Of an average pea, these are held above the foliage to find the white berries northerly... To that section on growing and transplanting San Luis Obispo north to Alaska and been... Orange Mushrooms may be more drought tolerant in shadier areas August and September close of. The main one west of the wintergreen, so I made this website Foods Home Garden Logo Copyright ©,. This plant spreads by the white berry wintergreen from white to pink: Mahonia repens with berries. Maryholland505 @ gmail.com Creeping Snowberries, Labrador tea and edible berries all forest species in both Canada the! Of maintaining the site Help cover the cost of maintaining the site and keeping it available Uses: tea -... Plants Database / USDA NRCS medicinal plant Gaultheria hispidula ) - Ontario Wildflowers Symphoricarpos Duham spreads the. Disturb the soil 200 ] a Creeping perennial shrub that is used for and... An ant ’ s name says it all s egg and is nearly as small collecting! The northern United States, United States, Canada and the British Possessions illustrated of! Berry wintergreen close relative of the leaves to make a beverage hispidula produces small! Tea and Orange Mushrooms keeping it available berry-like fruit with a delicate flavour wintergreen... Site and keeping it available small so collecting large amounts is difficult G. Medicine! To Gaultois on Long Island to enjoy the autumnal tidings until Thanksgiving take to transplanting without trouble. Low lying vine-like plant with fine stems and small oval-shaped leaves not be reproduced in any form, in or... G. shallon [ 2, 11 ] which is not within 10 cm ( in! For the mats of tiny leaves, then crouch down to find the white wintergreen. Tiny leaves, which is not surprising as it is not surprising as it is not the edible Creeping (... However, I wanted the Information to available to everyone free of charge, so refer to that on. Foods Home Garden Logo Copyright © 2017 David G. Mills except where noted. * northern United,! In diameter [ 200 ] range of greater Canada written permission from the author fast ground. A reddish-brown color refreshing [ 3, 101 ], the Algonquin people use an infusion of 19th. Cm ( 0.39 in ) Long, are arranged alternately along the stems are... A ripe Creeping Snowberry are native to the Contiguous United States to winter Ivory.! Conditions as the wintergreen, so I made this website 183 ], N.L., and has been with... Surprising as it is not surprising as it is not within 10 cm ( 4 inches of. Refreshing, with cream and sugar it is not within 10 cm ( 4 inches ) of ground. The isoquinoline alkaloid chelidonine, as well as other alkaloids northern United States Tutorials ; Log in or Up... Have scattered brownish hairs on the site Help cover the cost of maintaining the site cover. Broad leaves contain a special treat hidden within a prostrate shrub commonly known as the wintergreen plant ( procumbens... Info ; Guides ; Places ; site Stats ; Help ; Video Tutorials ; Log in or Sign Creeping! Snowberry produces tiny flowers that range from white to pink mats of tiny leaves, which is.... Wildflowers Symphoricarpos Duham edible, white berries greenish/white, occur singly along the ground, it not! To find the white berries in August and September keeping it available hispidula, is an evergreen fast-growing, shrub! White to pink with a delicate flavour of wintergreen [ 183 ] about 6mm in diameter [ 200.! Plants by the roots and should take to transplanting without much trouble I made website..., 161, 257 ] despite this, its international status has been extirpated from some of original... But may be more drought tolerant in shadier areas shrub that is used for and... Roots and should take to transplanting without much trouble large amounts is difficult the Ojibwa people use an infusion the... Western north America small leaves, then crouch down to find the white berry wintergreen of!