Our plant of the week: the coralberry

The coralberry - Symphoricarpos orbitulus Moench

Our plant of the week is a honeysuckle plant (family Caprifoliaceae) from the snowberry genus. Its best-known representative, the common snowberry[Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F.Blake var. laevigatus (Fernald) S.F.Blake], is also known as the "firecracker pea bush". When its white drupes are crushed, they burst open with a cracking sound.

The shaggy thicket of the coralberry currently bears striking wine-red fruit ornaments. The deciduous, approximately 1 m high shrub can be found near the container planting area in the North American area: its natural range is in the central and eastern USA.

Coralberry is one of the dominant shrubs on the prairie. Both underground runners and the arching overhanging branches, which form roots at the nodes when they come into contact with the ground, allow large stands to develop over time. In addition to this vegetative propagation, seeds contribute to the spread and multiplication. To break dormancy, the seed must be exposed to warm temperatures for around three to four months and then to significantly cooler temperatures for four to six months.

The small, yellowish-white, pink-tinged tubular flowers are inconspicuous and grow in dense axillary clusters or short spikes from June to August. Insects find plenty of nectar and pollen in them. The fleshy drupes, which adorn the shrub from fall until well into winter, provide food for birds and small mammals. They are slightly poisonous to humans and should therefore not be eaten.

The coralberry was first introduced to Europe in 1730. The species became established in gardens not only because of its decorative fruit, but also because it is robust and adaptable. It tolerates sun and partial shade and grows in all types of soil, even in the root zone of large trees. It is also very tolerant of pruning and capable of regeneration.

Scientists have discovered that the coralberry has an allelopathic effect and inhibits the germination and development of other plants. Whether this property can be used for weed control in agriculture, for example, is currently being researched.

(KW 51/24)

Around 10,000 plant species grow in the Botanical Garden at TU Dresden. On this page, we regularly present an example of this diversity in more detail. The special features of our scientific plant collection can be seen in many different ways: in amazing adaptations, strange names, interesting uses or even in the extraordinary splendor of their flowers.

You can view previous Plant of the Week articles in the archive.