Symphoricarpos sp.
Waxberry, snowberry, Snowberry
(c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caprifoliaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Symphoricarpos sp. (Waxberry) is a native California shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
Yes. Symphoricarpos sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Symphoricarpos sp. belong to?
Symphoricarpos sp. is in the Caprifoliaceae family, genus Symphoricarpos.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus — Snowberry
- Symphoricarpos longiflorus — Fragrant snowberry
- Symphoricarpos mollis — Creeping snowberry
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius — Mountain snowberry
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii — Parish's snowberry
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. rotundifolius — Long flowered snowberry
- Caprifoliaceae sp. — Honeysuckle family
- Lonicera cauriana — Blue fly honeysuckle
- Lonicera ciliosa — Orange honeysuckle
- Lonicera conjugialis — Double honeysuckle
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.