Hardy, deciduous, North American shrub Description: Tiny pink blossoms in early summer followed by white berries which persist through the winter and are especially striking after the leaves drop Habit: Grows 4 to 6 feet high and wide Culture: Prefers full sun to partial shade, and fertile, well-drained soil Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3 Origin: North America Attributes: Showy fruits, attracts birds Jefferson documented Thomas Jefferson sent seed of the Snowberry, brought back from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, to his nurseryman friend Bernard McMahon. In 1812, McMahon sent Jefferson young plants, saying "this is a beautiful shrub brought by Captain Lewis from the River Columbia; the flower is small but neat, the berries hang in large clusters and are of a snow-white colour, and continue on the shrub, retaining their beauty all the winter, especially if kept in a greenhouse...I have given it the trivial English name of Snowberry-bush". Jefferson promised the shrub to his Parisian friend, Madame de Tesse, and plants were sent to General John Hartwell Cocke, of Bremo Plantation on the James River in March 1817. Monticello was one of the first American gardens where this shrub was grown and it became a popular garden novelty in England after it was first exported in 1817.This plant will ship bare root. 18-24" tall. Bare root planting tips: If you can't plant immediately, store your plant in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center. Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery. Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.
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