Symplocos paniculata
Common name: 
Sapphire Berry
Asiatic Sweetleaf
Pronunciation: 
sim-PLO-kos pan-ik-u-LA-ta
Family: 
Symplocaceae
Genus: 
Symplocos
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous shrub, to about 10 ft (3 m) high, outspreading branches, pubescent at first.   Leaves alternate, simple, ovate-elliptic to obovate-oblong, 3-7 cm long and about 3-4 cm wide, tip acute or acuminate, base broad wedge-shaped, margin finely serrate and rough to the touch, bright green above with impressed veins, slightly pubescent below; petiole to 1 cm.  Flowers white, about 1 cm across, fragrant (scented like Hawthorns), in terminal 4-8 cm wide clusters (panicles) on short shoots, 5-petaled, numerous stamens.  Fruit pea-sized, sapphire blue in large clusters.
  • Sun, well-drained neutral or acidic soil
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5         Native to Himalaya, eastern Asia.  Reportedly the cooked fruit is used in jams, jellies and sauce.
  • paniculata: with flowers arranged in panicles
  • Salem, Oregon: northwest area of Bush Prairie Park.
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  • expanding leaves and flower clusters

    expanding leaves and flower clusters

  • flower clusters prior to opening

    flower clusters prior to opening

  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowers and leaves

    flowers and leaves

  • flower cluster and leaf

    flower cluster and leaf

  • plant habit, summer

    plant habit, summer

  • leafy shoot

    leafy shoot

  • leaf

    leaf

  • leaf, underside

    leaf, underside

  • leaf margin and stem

    leaf margin and stem

  • young fruit

    young fruit

  • plant habit, fall fruiting

    plant habit, fall fruiting

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • fruit

    fruit

  • plant habit and leaves, fall

    plant habit and leaves, fall

  • fruit, winter

    fruit, winter

  • twigs and buds, winter

    twigs and buds, winter