Symplocos

Symplocos

Symplocos myrtacea ( Japanese Sapphireberry )
An attractive, moderate growing, evergreen, small tree that is native to central & southern Japan.
The toothed, oblong leaves are glossy deep green.
The white flowers are borne on axilliary racemes during mid to late spring.
They are followed by deep blue berries during autumn.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 ( possibly 8 though further testing is needed ).

Symplocos paniculata ( Sapphireberry )
A deciduous large shrub to small tree, reaching up to 20 x 20 feet, that is w widespread native from the Himalayas to much of China, Korea and Japan; south to northern Burma & Vietnam. Some records include: largest on record - 31 x 39 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet.
The minutely-toothed, ovate, elliptical or obovate leaves, up to 4.3 x 2.3 inches in size, are glossy deep green above, dull gray beneath. The foliage turns to bright yellow during autumn.
The fragrant, showy white flowers, up to 0.5 inches across, are borne on clusters up to 3 inches in length, during late spring.
They are followed by blue berries, up to 0.4 x 0.3 inches in size, during early to mid autumn. This is an outstanding plant for feeding birds. The attractive ridged bark is gray.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( possibly even zone 3 for seed source from Heilongjiang ).

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* historic archive photo

Symplocos prunifolia
Also called Symplocos sumuntiia. A medium-sized, evergreen tree, reaching up to 33 feet, that is native from Bhutan & Nepal to far eastern China, Korea, Taiwan & southern Japan; south into India & Malaysia.
The lightly-toothed, ovate or oblong leaves are up to 4 x 1.8 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green above, yellowish-green beneath.
The white flowers are borne on dense axilliary racemes during mid to late spring.
They are followed by purplish-black berries from late autumn into early winter.
The smooth bark is purplish-brown.
Hardy zones 8 to 11 ( estimate...hardiness varying by origin of seed source ).

Symplocos theophrastaefolia
A very attractive, medium-sized, evergreen tree, reaching up to 50 feet, that is native to Taiwan and southern Japan.
The toothed, oblanceolate to narrow-elliptical leaves are glossy deep green above, pale green beneath.
The white flowers are borne on panicles late summer into early autumn.
They are followed by deep purple berries during late autumn the following year.
The very smooth bark is grayish-white.
Hardy zone 9 to 10 ( est ).

Symplocos tinctoria ( Horse Sugar )
An upright, small, semi-evergreen to evergreen tree native to forest understories through much of the southeastern U.S. ( from Louisiana to Delaware; south to Florida ). Some records include: largest on record - 63 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 25 inches.
The thick, entire leaves, up to 6 inches in length, are glossy deep green above.
The fragrant, creamy-yellow flowers are borne on dense, axilliary clusters during mid spring.
They are followed by elliptical, orangish-brown drupes, up to 0.5 inches in length.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in partial shade.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* historic archive photos