Symplocos paniculata
Plant Expert:
Michael Dirr Symplocos paniculata
Michael Dirr
Symplocos paniculata
Symplocos paniculata (click for large image)
Asiatic Sweetleaf, Sapphireberry
Common Names:
  • Asiatic Sweetleaf
  • Sapphireberry
More Images:
Asiatic Sweetleaf, Sapphireberry Asiatic Sweetleaf, Sapphireberry
Asiatic Sweetleaf, Sapphireberry Asiatic Sweetleaf, Sapphireberry
 
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Origin:

  Himalayas to China and Japan  

Sun/Water Requirements:

  Partial/Full sun.
Moderate climate.

Climate / Hardiness Zones:

  Zone 4 to Zone 8

Dirr says: "Has withstood - 20 to -25°F and flowered normally."

Growth:

  Range: Grows from 15' to 30'.
Dirr says: "10 to 20' high with a similar spread. Best to prune in winter, although some flower buds will be lost. Large shrub or small, low-branched tree becoming wide-spreading at maturity; a particularly handsome specimen at the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA was 20' high and 30' wide."

Flowers:

  Color(s): White
Season(s): Late Spring, Early Summer

Dirr says: "fragrant, borne in to 2 to 3" long panicles in late May - early June on growth of previous season. The flower effect is much superior to honeysuckles. Each flower about 1/2" diameter."  

Foliage:

  Deciduous
Color: Leaves are dark green in the summer.
Dirr says: "no appreciable fall color"  

Fruit:

  Color: Blue
Season(s): Late Summer, Early Fall
Dirr says: "1/3" long one-seeded drupe that color-wise could be categorized as ultramarine, sapphire, bright turquoise-blue and lapis-lazuli blue, September - October, often stripped by the birds. Several shrubs should be planted to insure adequate cross-pollination. Certainly one of the handsomest of fruiting shrubs and should be used in every park, bird sanctuary and the like. A plant in full fruit is truly spectacular."  

Landscape Value:

  Can be used as an ornamental plant.
Can be used as a specimen plant.
Can be used as a grouping plant.

Dirr says: "probably best used in the back of the shrub border, as an unpruned screen or as a small specimen tree; this is an excellent plant for attracting birds; speciments are long-lived and require essentially no maintenance; plant several plants or different clones to insure cross-pollination"

Other:

  Is Resistant to Disease
Is Resistant to Insects
 
Symplocos paniculata is hardy in these areas:
Alsip, ILBaltimore, MDBayside, NY
Bronx, NYBrooklyn, NYBrownsville, TX
Canton, MIChicago, ILCicero, IL
College Point, NYConneaut, OHCorona, NY
Detroit, MIDorset, OHEast Claridon, OH
East Elmhurst, NYEast Greenville, PAEast Texas, PA
Easton, PAEcorse, MIElmhurst, NY
Elmwood Park, ILElyria, OHEmmaus, PA
Evergreen Park, ILFerndale, MIFlorence, SC
Flushing, NYForest Hills, NYFort Eustis, VA
Fresh Meadows, NYGlen Burnie, MDGwynn Oak, MD
Harper Woods, MIHarrison Township, MIHighland Park, MI
Hunt Valley, MDJackson Heights, NYLeasburg, NC
Lexington, NCLiberty, NCLinwood, NC
Little Neck, NYMacomb, MIMarysville, MI
Maspeth, NYMemphis, MIMiddle Village, NY
Morgantown, WVMount Clemens, MINew Baltimore, MI
New Haven, MINew York, NYNewport News, VA
North Ridgeville, OHNorth Street, MINottingham, MD
Oakland Gardens, NYParkville, MDPhiladelphia, PA
Pikesville, MDRego Park, NYRidgewood, NY
Riverdale, ILRosedale, MDSparrows Point, MD
Staten Island, NYTaylor, MITemperance, MI
Towson, MDTrenton, MIVirginia Beach, VA
Wayne, MIWestland, MIWhitestone, NY
Whitmore Lake, MIWoodside, NY
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