Small shrub to 1 m (3 ft) tall, rhizomatous, forming large clonal colonies. Leaves opposite, elliptic to suborbicular, 2-6 cm (0.8-2.4 in) long and 1-3.5 cm (0.4-2.2 in) wide, glabrate and green above, whitish and more or less pubescent below, entire or with a few large teeth. Flowers in spicate clusters, 5-8 mm (0.2-0.3 in) long and wide, whitish, blooming in early Summer. Fruits white, drying blue or black, 6-9 mm (0.25-0.35 in) in diameter, ripening in Fall.
Distribution: Southcentral Canada south to northern New Mexico and west to Washington state.
Habitat: Hillsides, ravines, prairies.
NWI status: none
Comment: Symphoricarpos is derived from a Greek phrase referring to the clusters of fruits; occidentalis means "western".
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/20/99
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