Symphoricarpos mollis
Creeping snowberry, trip vine, Trip Vine
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Caprifoliaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Symphoricarpos mollis (Creeping snowberry) is a native California shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family, recognized by sprawling habit and rooting branches.
Creeping snowberry is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, central western California, southwestern California, and Modoc Plateau in open woodland places and on ridges and slopes at elevations of 9 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink flowers with red exteriors, bell-shaped and approximately 4 millimeters long, with delicate hairy interiors. Growing as a sprawling plant 15 to 60 centimeters tall, its branches often root and form swollen nodes, creating a distinctive spreading habit. Its small leaves measure 5 to 30 millimeters, with branches that can develop thickened root-crowns and older nodes. The fruit is round and approximately 8 millimeters in diameter, containing 2 to 4 millimeter seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by sprawling habit and rooting branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ridges, slopes, open places in woodland
Elevation: 9-3000 m
California counties: Humboldt, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Kern, San Bernardino, Trinity, Riverside, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Orange, Lake, Fresno, Ventura, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Tulare, Butte, Madera, Modoc, San Benito, Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Tehama, Plumas, Siskiyou, Alameda, El Dorado, Amador, Del Norte, Glenn, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Nevada, Shasta, Placer, Alpine, Contra Costa, Lassen, Mono, Sierra, Solano, Napa, Calaveras
Outside California: to British Columbia, Idaho, New Mexico
Bloom period
Symphoricarpos mollis blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Lonicera: Symphoricarpos has symmetrical bell flowers and white berries; Lonicera has lopsided tubular flowers and dark berries.; vs Gaultheria: Symphoricarpos has opposite leaves and exactly 2 seeds per berry; Gaultheria has alternate leaves and many tiny seeds.; vs Apocynum: Symphoricarpos produces white berries; Apocynum produces paired dry seed pods and has milky sap.; vs Rosa: Symphoricarpos has opposite leaves and white berries; Rosa has alternate compound leaves and red rose hips.; vs Toxicodendron: Symphoricarpos has opposite simple leaves and white berries; Toxicodendron has alternate compound leaves and whitish drupes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Symphoricarpos mollis native to California?
Yes. Symphoricarpos mollis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Symphoricarpos mollis bloom?
Symphoricarpos mollis blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Symphoricarpos mollis grow?
Symphoricarpos mollis occurs in Humboldt, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Kern, San Bernardino, Trinity, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of 9-3000 m.
What plant family does Symphoricarpos mollis belong to?
Symphoricarpos mollis is in the Caprifoliaceae family, genus Symphoricarpos.
What habitat does Symphoricarpos mollis grow in?
Symphoricarpos mollis grows in Ridges, slopes, open places in woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius — Mountain snowberry
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii — Parish's snowberry
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. rotundifolius — Long flowered snowberry
- Symphoricarpos sp. — Waxberry
- Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus — Snowberry
- Symphoricarpos longiflorus — Fragrant snowberry
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.