Star-vine Schisandra glabra
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Schisandra coccinea
- Description
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Bay Starvine , a native to the Piedmont and coast of North Carolina, is a climbing, perennial, flowering vine in the star-vine family that sprawls or twines over shrubs or high up in the canopy of trees in woodland areas, bluffs and streambanks. At maturity, it can spread 65 feet or more. It has showy orange flowers in spring and summer and rarely seen red fruits (they are difficult to spot being so high up). It is the only American species of this typically Asian genus.
Bay Starvine grows best in moist, well drained, rich soils in partial shade. It can tolerate less than 2 hours of sun a day.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. This native is highly threatened by non-native plants like Japanese Honeysuckle and is listed as a critically imperiled species in North Carolina.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Schisandra
- Species:
- glabra
- Family:
- Schisandraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States and Mexico
- Distribution:
- North Carolina south to Florida, west to Louisiana, and north to Kentucky, northern and central Mexico.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds enjoy the fruits as a food source.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Screening
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Bright red mature aggregated berries. Red-brown seeds. Fruits from July to August in North Carolina.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Separate male and female flowers appear late spring to early summer. Five fleshy dark orange tepals surrounded by 5 yellow-green tepals. The flowers dangle on long stalks from the leaf axils. In North Carolina, the flowers bloom from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Elliptical-ovate to heart-shaped leaves with entire to slightly dentate margins are 1 to 6 inches long and 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Yellow fall foliage.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Flaking dark gray brown becoming dark brown.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Pith (Split Longitudinally):
- Continuous homogeneous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems pale brown, smooth. Older stems up to 1/12/ inches in diameter.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
