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Native Plant Society of Texas

Coralberry

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Other common name(s):

Indian Currant, Buckbrush

Family:

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Leaflet Tiles © Esri — Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, TomTom, Intermap, iPC, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), and the GIS User Community
East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland
Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

4
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Rocky, Well Drained, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Green

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Maintenance

Very low maintenance. Coralberry can adapt to various soil types, but prefers well-drained, moist, loamy, or rocky soil. Spreads by runners, so give lots of room. Cut back in winter if it gets leggy or to control runners as needed. Good for erosion control. Native habitat: along stream banks and common in Post Oak woodlands. Propagation: semi-hardwood cutting, seed.

Comments

Blooms April-September. A low-growing shrub with purple stems, some trailing and root to form colonies. Small oval leaves are blunt at both ends and hairy beneath. Small, bell-shaped, greenish to purplish, flowers grow in dense clusters, occurring in uppermost leaf axils. The fruit is a red to purple berry. A good source of late fall food for wildlife.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Symphoricarpos symphoricarpos

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 108. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYOR. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Symphoricarpos+orbiculatus&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=7159&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35337#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014., 8) https://rootedin.com/tough-texas-native-plants-for-shade-creating-a-cool-haven-before-the-heat/
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