Dwarf shrub perennial of the Ericaceae family, this cultivar is a hybrid derived from Cassiope 'Askival', itself resulting from the cross between Cassiope lycopodioides and Cassiope wardii. The name Snowbird aptly evokes the immaculate whiteness of its flowers and the alpine and northern character of the plant.
It forms a dense and regular cushion, with highly branched stems covered with small, closely applied scaly leaves, of a persistent dark green, giving the whole a texture almost reptilian characteristic of the genus Cassiope. The height remains modest, between 15 and 20 cm.
The flowers are small, hanging bells of pure white, borne on slender peduncles that lightly emerge from the dense foliage. Compared to 'Askival', the shade is generally more uniformly white, without the marked pinkish edge at the base, which gives it its evocative name.
In cultivation, its flowering extends from April to May. Like all Cassiope, it requires an acidic, humus-rich, peaty soil, constantly fresh, well-drained on the surface, in partial shade or under filtered light. It does not tolerate limestone or soil drying out, and finds its place in heather gardens and rockeries in oceanic or mountain climates.