Sapphire Berry Shrub, Symplocos paniculata , Seeds
Hardy, Adaptable, Easy to Grow, Showy Fragrant Flowers, Attracts Birds, Wildlife Food/Shelter, Cold, Heat and Wind Tolerant
Grown for its 1/3 inch exquisite fruit in shades of turquoise or lapis lazuli, unlike any other ornamental; a mature tree covered with bright berries in the sun is extraordinarily beautiful.
Native to China, Japan and Himalayas, Sapphire Berry is a deciduous large multi-stemmed shrub or small low-branching tree typically growing 10 to 20 feet tall with a spreading habit. The bark on mature specimens has gray ridges and dark fissures. Foliage is ovate to obovate, finely toothed, dark green leaves to 3" long with no real fall color. Fragrant, cream-white flowers, 1/2 inch wide, are borne on 2 to 3 inch panicles in spring, on last year's wood. Fruit is a bright turquoise or sapphire blue, 1/3 inch wide drupe, ripening in fall. Birds are very attracted to the fruit. Problem free, easy to grow, not fussy as long as the soil is well drained. Not bothered by pests. An exellent plant for the back of the border, as a screen or small tree.
Other Names: Sapphireberry, Asiatic sweetleaf
Zone: 4 to 8
Growth Rate: Slow
Plant Type: Deciduous large shrub or small tree
Family: Symplocaceae
Native Range: Himilayas, eastern Asia, China and Japan Height: 10 to 20 feet Spread: 10 to 25 feet Shape: Large rounded shrub to low branched small tree; wide spreading with age.
Bloom Time: May - June
Bloom Color: White Flower/Fruit: Creamy white, fragrant flowers on 2 to 3" panicles in early summer; .3" bright turquoise blue fruit in fall.
Sun: Full Sun
Fall Color: None
Water: Medium Maintenance: Medium
Site Requirements /Soil Tolerances : Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun.
Culture: Plant in groups of three or more to insure acceptable level of cross-pollination and resultant fruit production. Flowers on previous year's growth, but light, late winter pruning is still recommended even though some of the flower buds will be removed.
Uses: Best in groups in the shrub border or bird garden. Also effective as an unpruned screen.
Sowing Symplocos paniculata Seeds:
Sapphire Berry seed need a warm spell then a cold spell in order to mature the embryo and reduce the seed coat.
For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.
Scarify: Soak 24 hours
Stratify: Warm 90-120 Days, Then Cold 60-90 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium.
Germination: Sow 1/8” deep
For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please download this .pdf:
https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2007/08/fcpg018.pdf
Germination:
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