Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
coralberry
Overview
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus is a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family growing 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) tall and spreading 4-8 feet (1.2-2.4 m) wide by arching stems and root suckers that form dense colonies. The opposite oval leaves are 0.5-1.5 inches (1.3-3.8 cm) long, blue-green above and paler beneath, turning yellowish before dropping. Clusters of small bell-shaped flowers, greenish-white flushed with pink and about 0.15 inch (4 mm) long, open along the stems in mid to late summer. By autumn the flowers are replaced by tight clusters of round berry-like drupes 0.2-0.25 inch (5-6 mm) across in coral-pink to purplish-red, which crowd the slender branches and persist well into winter after the leaves fall. The fruit contains saponins and is regarded as mildly toxic to people if eaten in quantity. Plants tolerate dry shade, poor soil, and slopes, and the suckering roots bind soil on banks. The same colonizing habit can crowd out smaller plants and spread beyond a planted area. Birds take the fruit through winter.
Native Range
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus is native to central and eastern North America, from the eastern United States west to the Great Plains and south into Mexico, where it grows in open woods, thickets, slopes, and along stream banks.Suggested Uses
Used for erosion control on banks and slopes, as a low informal hedge, and in naturalized or wildlife plantings where its colonizing habit is an asset. It grows in dry shade and difficult sites that challenge other shrubs. The persistent fall and winter fruit supports birds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 5'
Width/Spread4' - 8'
Bloom Information
Small greenish-white to pink bell-shaped flowers open in mid to late summer, generally July to August. The flowers are inconspicuous against the foliage and draw bees. Fruit develops through late summer and colors in fall, the main seasonal display lasting from October into winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish-white flushed pinkFoliage Description
blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus grows in full sun to full shade and accepts a broad range of soils, including clay, loam, and dry rocky ground, at a pH of about 5.5-7.5. It tolerates drought once established, as well as dry shade beneath trees where many shrubs decline. Water through the first season helps establishment; after that, irrigation is rarely needed. The roots sucker freely and form spreading colonies, so a defined edge or periodic removal of suckers keeps it in bounds. It needs no fertilizer in average soils. Hardy in USDA zones 2-7, it withstands severe winter cold.Pruning
Pruning is done in late winter while the plant is dormant. Stems can be cut back hard or even mowed to renew the colony and control height. Removing root suckers around the margins limits lateral spread into nearby beds.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter