Common Name: Coralberry

General Information

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus is a deciduous shrub with a densely bushy, spreading habit; it can grow 90 - 200cm tall. Spreading at the roots, the plant can form a thicket of growth[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, valued especially for its fruiting display, and can be used as a hedge.

Known Hazards

No report of toxicity has been seen for this species but the fruit of many if not all members of this genus contains saponins.
Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans.
Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins.
Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - New Jersey and New York to Georgia and Texas.

Habitat

Open woods, thickets and dry banks[]. Dry sandy soil in woodlands, along river banks, and often in open woodland pastures[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus is a very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c[].
Tolerates most soils and conditions, including poor soils and amongst the roots and under the drip of trees[, ]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a well-drained soil[]. Does well in sun or shade[]. Tolerates urban pollution and maritime exposure[].
Plants sucker freely and quickly form thickets[].
This species does not fruit freely in regions with cool summers[].
A good bee plant[, ].
There are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Scarcely eaten[]. Insipid[]. The coral-red, or somewhat purplish-tinged fruit is about 6mm long and 4 - 5mm wide[, ]. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity above.

Medicinal

A decoction of the inner bark or leaves has been used as a wash in the treatment of weak, inflamed or sore eyes[].
A cold decoction of the root bark has been used as an eye wash to treat sore eyes[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown as a hedge or informal screen[]. They are very tolerant of trimming.
Plants have an extensive root system and also sucker freely, they can be used for soil stabilization on banks and slopes[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months warm then 5 months cold stratification[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 15 - 25cm long preferably with a heel, in a sheltered bed outdoors in winter. High percentage[, ].
Division of suckers in winter. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.