Sapphireberry used to be much more available a few years ago. I bought a couple from Woodlanders and a couple more from Eastern Plant Specialties. All four have grown well and shown no particular problems with disease. The only difficulty was that the 17-year cicadas just loved them.

I've had plenty of the blue berries, but no plants have ever come up from seed underneath or nearby them. Perhaps they are tricky to propagate?

I have always love the plant based on the images I see in books. If anyone has had luck with this plant in the North I would be interested in hearing about your experience.

I just ordered 5 small plants of "SAPPHIRE-BERRY" (Symplocos paniculata)...from MUSSER FORESTS. This is the only company that I know of, that is offering this tree. For the price, I thought I'd try growing these shrubs for the berry display. I'm sure I'll be waiting a long time.

Does anyone know if they will make a decent subject for Bonsai training? After the 5 "trees" grow for a few years, I'll fuse-graft the trunks. together to form one thicker "composite" trunk. I have used this grafting technique on other species to create thicker trunks in a shorter time.

I would be interested in learning more about these shrub/trees.

Thanks....Frank DV.....from DA-BRONX

Part of its rarity might be it is very reluctant to germinate from seed. If it is difficult to vegetatively propagate, that could partly explain it.

Scott

I did not know Symplocos paniculata before 2005 when I decided to buy one at Waasland arboretum (Norhern Belgium)

it is very difficult to have good information about it :
The first winter was snowy (2005/06) and my shrub (in well drained soil and sunny place was not vigorous...
i think it must have a 'good summer time' to get fruits..

It is already with a thin branching as Loretta's one.
2007, the foliage is already small, perhaps the soil is not rich enough, or the sun is too hard at this place in summer ?
If somebody has good idea...
Thanks a lot
Phil

ps : congratulations for this Shrubs forum..

Here is a link to a photo of one of my Symplocos paniculata shrubs which shows the branch structure. I planted this one about 10 years ago. There is another one a few feet away. The photo was taken in early spring, so you can get a look at the branching.

After growing these shrubs for 10 years, I find that they need extra water in a dry summer. I did not fertilize them for the first years, but now I do. With fertilizer and water, I notice that the leaves are larger.

I have four of these, and they all required a few years of growth before they produced many flowers and berries. You need two plants for good berry production.

Thanks in advance.

Teresa

There have been many queries posted on the internet about where this shrub might be found, if you think you can get it from forestfarm or anyone else don't fiddle about.

A friend listed it through his nursery once, perhaps grown from seed I gave him - I don't remember now - and got many orders for the few plants he was able to get to come up and grow.

Teresa

Teresa