NICE! Plant of the Month
(Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)
Other Common Names: Indian Currant, Buckbrush, Turkeybush, and Snowberry
Type: Shrub; 2 to 4 feet in the Hill Country.
Natural Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, and along streams in eastern third of Texas and the eastern U.S.
Growth: rapid growth, short-lived, thicket forming, shallow rooted.
Preferred Site and Use: Understory; groundcover or small arching shrub.
Deer Resistance: Somewhat.
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and birds.
Light Tolerance: Partial sun to shade.
Flowers: June-August; tiny greenish white to pink.
Fruit: Showy, 1/8 inch dark pink, berrylike drupes in the late fall that remain throughout the winter.
Leaves: Deciduous but almost evergreen; simple, opposite, small oval leaves.
Spacing Width: 2 feet, spreading.
Water Requirements: Medium
Soil Requirements: Sands, loams, clays; well drained neutral to alkaline.
Propagation: Firm-wood cuttings of current season’s growth.
Maintenance: Low; cut back to ground every 3 years for thicker growth. In small landscapes or to keep it from spreading, the branches need to be trimmed before they touch the ground.
Planting Instructions: Space plants 2 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, Coralberry will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: Coralberry makes a great ground cover and remains pretty all winter, especially under oak trees. It can be used in place of invasive vinca. To prevent leaf mildew in a landscaped environment, plant it in well-ventilated areas. Excellent plant for erosion control.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
