Habitat

• native from Nova Scotia and Alberta south to Minnesota and Virginia
• hardy to zone 3

Habit and Form

• deciduous multi-stemmed shrub
• 3-6 ft. tall and wide
• bushy, rounded habit
• twiggy, dense branching
• spreads by suckers underground

Summer Foliage

• opposite, simple leaves
• ovate, rounded shape
• blue-green color
• pubescent undersides

Autumn Foliage

• no appreciable fall color

Flowers

• terminal spikes on current growth
• pinkish, tubular blossoms .25" long
• blooms not very showy

Fruit

• round to oval drupe .5" diameter
• brilliant white color
• persist September-November
• very ornamental

Bark

• rounded, pubescent stems
• thin, brown bark

Culture

• easy to transplant
• tolerates any soil
• sun to medium shade
• prune before new growth

Landscape Use

• shrub border
• shaded gardens
• naturalizing

Liabilities

• suckers profusely and spreads
• little floral show
• no fall color

ID Features

• white fall drupes
• rounded, bushy habit
• suckering growth
• opposite leaves and buds

Propagation

• by cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

var. laevigatus (also known as S. rivularis) - This is a more vigorous grower that is larger in all its parts. It grows taller than 6' and, most important from an ornamental perspective, features larger fruit that are more profusely borne.

'Variegata' - This is a delicate, fine-textured variegated form with white-edged leaves. It will reach 4' tall after many years.