Marcus, Joseph A.
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench
Coralberry, Indian currant, Buckbrush
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)
This small, mound-shaped,
deciduous shrub with shredding
bark on older wood and brown to purplish branchlets covered with short hairs visible under a 10x hand lens, usually grows to 4 ft. but can reach 6 ft. Its smooth, dull green leaves are
opposite and roughly
oval, tapering about equally to tip and base, up to 2 inches long but often less than 1 inch, with smooth, turned down margins and a rounded or broadly pointed tip. The greenish-white flower clusters are not as showy as the clusters of coral-pink to purple berries up to 1/4 inch in diameter which remain on the plant through winter.
Particularly common in Post Oak (
Quercus stellata) woods, Coralberry forms extensive colonies and spreads by rooting at the nodes where it touches the ground. A good choice for a woodland garden.
Image Gallery:
10 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Opposite Leaf Complexity: Simple Size Notes: less than 2
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Purple, pinkish purple, coral pink, 1/8 inch
Size Class: 1-3 ft. , 3-6 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Native Distribution: Eastern US from New York south to eastern Texas, west to South Dakota and Colorado.
Native Habitat: Shaded woods, thickets, open woodlands, streambanks, river banks. Common in Post Oak woodlands (
Quercus stellata).
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Well-drained sand, loam, or clay.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: A low-growing forest
shrub with attractive winter berries and persistent, bright green foliage for use in eastern North America.
Use Wildlife: Songbirds, ground birds, small mammals, and browsers use this plant for food, cover, and nesting sites.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: Moderate
2010-04-25
