Symphoricarpos mollis


Symphoricarpos mollis, with the common names creeping snowberry, Southern California snowberry, and trip vine, is a shrub in the honeysuckle family.

Description

The plant is a creeping shrub, low growing and straggling, with stems that can reach several feet while the height limited to about. It reproduces both from via rhizome and seed.
Leaves are opposite. Stems are flexible.
It bears bunches of red or pink rounded, bell-shaped flowers and spherical or bulbous white or pink-tinted fruits measuring about.

Distribution and habitat

The shrub is found in western North America from British Columbia to California inland to Nevada and Idaho.
It does well in warm climates and can tolerate both intense sun and constant shade. It is a plant of chaparral ecosystems, especially along coastlines.

Edibility

The fruits are inedible. While not generally considered toxic, they are distasteful, having a soapy texture due to the presence of saponins.