NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Coralberry, Buckbrush, Indian Currant, Red Snowberry

Scientific Name:	Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
Genus:	Symphoricarpos
Species Epithet:	orbiculatus
Common Name:	Coralberry, Buckbrush, Indian Currant, Red Snowberry
Plant Type	Shrub
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	3-6 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	July, August, September
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	“Moist to dry forests, woodlands, thickets, pastures, and old fields, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks. The original native distribution somewhat uncertain due to cultivation and escapes. Seemingly increasing in VA and behaving aggressively in dry woodlands and barrens over greenstone and diabase.” (Weakley 2015). Infrequent in NC Mountains, fairly common in Piedmont and rare in the western portion of the NC Coastal Plain.
Leaf Arrangement:	Opposite
Leaf Retention:	Semi-evergreen
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S4: Apparently secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	Showy, reddish-purple fruits that persist into the winter. Colonial, best used in natural areas.
Tight clusters of brightly colored berries are produced in the fall and can remain on the stems into winter. Chatham County, NC, cultivated Larry Mellichamp
Austin TX, cultivated Larry Mellichamp
Austin, TX, cultivated Larry Mellichamp
The fruit remains on the plant through winter. The photo was taken in early January. Confluence Natural Area, Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php https://nc.audubon.org/conservation/bird-friendly-communities/bird-friendly-native-plants https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/symphoricarpos-orbiculatus/ https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/symphoricarpos/orbiculatus/