Bring the Outdoors Home

Coralberry | Plant Profile

Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) are deciduous meadow shrubs that are native to the American midwest. They can grow up to 5′ tall with thin arching stems. Whiteish-pink flowers populate the plants in spring. The flowers produce large clusters of berries that remain throughout winter and attract wildlife.

Coralberry prefers average fertility, medium moisture, well drained soils in full sun to part shade. These shrubs can easily spread via basal shoots, or root suckers, that should be removed if propagation is not desired.

Coralberry may be too invasive for formal landscaping locations. These shrubs are best located in naturalized areas where they can be allowed to spread uninterrupted. They can also be useful for erosion control on hillsides.

Description

Coralberry Characteristics

Coralberry are vibrant, spreading shrubs that grow especially well in open meadows. The white flowers produce an abundance of attractive purple berries. While these berries are attractive to wildlife, they can be poisonous to humans when consumed in large amounts. Deer will generally leave these shrubs alone, but birds frequently visit the berry-laden shrubs.

There are few serious insect or disease issues that plague Coralberry. Some mildews may occur in damp climates, but are rarely threatening to the health of the shrub.

USDA Climate Zone
Zones 2 - 7
Height
2.00 - 5.00'
Spread
4.00 - 8.00'
Bloom Time
June - July
Water
Medium
Sun
Full Sun - Part Shade
Maintenance
Medium
Deer Resistant?
Yes