Horse-sugar Symplocos tinctoria
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-PLOH-kos tink-TOR-ee-ah
- Description
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Sweetleaf is a hardy deciduous shrub or small tree that may grow 20 feet tall. In nature, it can be found in moist bottomland forests, pocosin edges, mesic forests, ridgetop forests, and sandhills. The leaves are alternate with a smooth margin and yellow underside. The leaves are edible and sweet to the taste. In early spring, small, white flowers mature. The small tree produces a 1/2-inch, orange-brown drupe that matures in late summer. Best planted in naturalized areas with access to full to partial sun.
Sweetleaf is a host plant for the larvae of the King's hairstreak (Satyrium kingi) butterfly.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Exobasidium symploci causes fungal galls on Symplocos in the spring but does no serious damage to the plant.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Early spring, spring Nut/Fruit/Seed: Late summer
- 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:
- Symplocos
- Species:
- tinctoria
- Family:
- Symplocaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & South East U.S.A
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It also provides nectar for pollinators and supports King's Hairstreak (Satyrium kingi) larvae which feed on the leaf buds and leaves. The adults have one flight from May-July and feed off of nectar from Allegheny chinquapin and sourwood. Adult butterflies enjoy the nectar from the blooms in the spring. Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals.
- Edibility:
- The foliage has a sweet taste.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit displays in late summer. In North Carolina, the fruits are available from August to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Compact clusters of small, fragrant, cream-colored borne in profusion along the branches of the previous season's growth. Numerous stamens make the blooms particularly showy. In North Carolina, flowers are available from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple green alternate leaves with smooth margins and yellow undersides. Some leaves may remain on the tree until springtime.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Bumpy
- Lenticels
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth and grayish brown to green initially. Warty lenticels and shallow pits develop as the tree ages.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- A short trunk with an open crown of spreading branches.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
