Snowberry
Chiococca parvifolia
There are three forms of Snowberry that are now considered to be separate species. Common Snowberry, Chiococca alba, is native from the Keys to Brevard County along the coast. It is the most common species and tends to climb up trees or form a mound of vines.
The pinetorum species has small leaves and is found in the pine rocklands.
The parvifolia species is a ground cover found in the upper keys. This has 1.5 inch leaves that are slightly smaller than the alba species and the stems form a low matt that makes an excellent ground cover in shady to sunny locations.
These species belong to the coffee family and have shiny, dark green leaves. The bruised foliage gives off a chewing gum like fragrance which you may notice when pruning.
When in bloom, the creamy fragrant flowers of all species attract unusual butterflies like the ruddy daggerwing. The clean white quarter inch fruit hang in clusters and are very attractive to birds in late summer. They are not poisonous or tasty.
The parvifolia species in the picture is on the north side of a house and is visited by cardinals feeding on the berries. What a delight to view wildlife so close to a dining room window. A pavonia is also planted here and attracts hummingbirds to its tubular flowers.
Moderate salt air, short periods of freezing temperatures, deep shade to full sun and a month or two of drought are all tolerated by the Snowberries.
Plant the Common Snowberry in rich, dry soil with organic matter. When planting a mixed hedge, put this in the front to add an attractive mounding layer that can stand alone or climb into other trees or shrubs.
Plant both the parvifolia and pinetorum species along the north side of the house as great shade tolerant groundcovers that outperform Jasmine, Green Island Ficus and other overused groundcovers. The larger parvifolia species will also climb into other plants, much like the alba species does.
I have been surprised to find the alba species growing in scrub habitat mixed with Saw Palmetto, Scrub Redbay, Wild Coffee, Hercules Club, Necklace Pod, Dune Sunflower and Scrub Oaks. By adding a little organic matter to the soil, you should be able to grow this species almost anywhere.