Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench

Coralberry; Indian Current

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Coralberry is a native deciduous shrub in the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). It is native to the northern third of Alabama and to the Black Belt region of Central Alabama. Coralberry occurs in thin rocky woodlands, in prairie margins, in limestone glades, and along streams. It is a small suckering shrub from a taproot. It grows 2-4 feet in height with arching to divergent branches. The trunk has brown shaggy bark. Young twigs are reddish-brown in color and pubescent. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate to elliptic in outline, pubescent, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in sessile axillary clusters. Each flower has a 5 lobed calyx and a tubular corolla that is greenish-yellow in color. The corolla has 5 lobes, 5 stamens, and an inferior ovary. The fruit is an oblong reddish-purple berry with 2 seed that persists on the plant late into the winter. Coralberry fruit are eaten by many bird species and Coralberry is often heavily browsed by White Tailed Deer. The foliage of Coralberry is the larval food for Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), and Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) Moths. Coralberry is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental. It prefers a well-drained basic soil in full or partial sun. Plants should be heavily pruned in winter to promote a bushier growth form and more flowers and fruit.—A. Diamond

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Native FAC- (NWPL)

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