Sapphire berry Shrub, Symplocos paniculata, Asiatic Sweetleaf

Perennial woody deciduous member of the Symplocos genus in the family Symplocaceae.

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 excellent plant for the back of the border, as a screen or small tree.
Other Names: Sapphireberry, Asiatic sweetleaf

  • Native Range: Himilayas, eastern Asia, China and Japan
  • 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.

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - cooked[1]. Used in jams, jellies and sauce[2]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[3].

Fruit

Material uses

A yellow or red dye is obtained from the leaves and bark[4][5][6][7].

We have no specific information for this species but many species in this genus contain alum and can be used as mordants when dyeing[8].

Wood - white, soft to moderately hard. close grained, liable to twist and split when seasoning. Of possible use in turnery[5][6].

Unknown part

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The bark is astringent, cooling and tonic[9]. It is useful in the treatment of menorrhagia, bowel complaints, eye diseases and ulcers[9]. It is also used as a gargle for giving firmness to spongy and bleeding gums[9]. The juice of the bark is applied externally to sprains and muscular swellings[7].

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed requires stratification and is best sown in a cold frame in late winter, it can take 12 months to germinate[10]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in individual pots in a cold frame[11][3]. Roots are formed in about 4 weeks. Good percentage[11].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Symplocos paniculata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

 

 

Cultivation

Requires an acid soil and a sunny position. Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained fertile neutral to acid soil[12][3].

One report says that plants are hardy to about -10°c, though it is also said that they can survive quite harsh winters outdoors in Britain but that they need a warm, sunny protected position and a hot summer if they are to fruit well[10][3]. The fruits are sometimes spoiled by frosts[3]. The flowers are sweetly fragrant[3][13]. Self-sterile, it needs cross-pollination with a different plant in the same species if seed and fruit are to be produced[10][12].

Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3]

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Symplocos genus in the family Symplocaceae.

 2 pictures - click to enlarge

Asiatic sweetleaf/Sapphire berry

Asiatic sweetleaf/Sapphire berry

Details   China & Japan. Wide spreading deciduous shrub. Panicles of creamy white fragrant flowers in mid summer. Bright blue berries remain after leaf fall, best display where two or more are planted. Fruit - cooked. Used in jams, jellies and sauce
Common name   Asiatic sweetleaf/Sapphire berry
Botanical name   Symplocos paniculata
Family   Symplocaceae
Height (m)   3.0
Edible  
Fruit / berries  
Perennial  
Date   August 11, 2013
Wind tolerance   Good
Shade / Sun   Full sun
Soil type   Moist
Flowers   White
Colour   Purple