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Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Buck Brush · Coralberry · Indian-currant

Family CaprifoliaceaeGenus Symphoricarpos

Crowded clusters of dull magenta berries packed along arching stems, among rounded blue-green leaves.
FruitCillasCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
2-4 ft0.6-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, Insignificant, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 14, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 13, 2025.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1/13 germinated in this phase.

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/13 germinated in this phase.

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  9. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/13 germinated in this phase.

  10. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1/13 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 8 run on after germination.

about 15 months from start to step 8. Germination happens during step 8; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

38% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Symphoricarpos p. 218Public domain
Show the original text
Symphoricarpos (Caprifoliaceae). S. orbiculata germ. 40-70-40-70(1/13)- 40(1/13)-70(5/13)-40(1/13)-70(1/13) using fresh seeds WC for 7 d. Seed WC and DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40(3/9)-70(1/9)-40(2/9)-70-40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Symphoricarpos p. 218. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 11, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1/9 germinated in this phase.

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2/9 germinated in this phase.

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  9. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 9 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

33% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Symphoricarpos p. 218Public domain
Show the original text
Symphoricarpos (Caprifoliaceae). S. orbiculata germ. 40-70-40-70(1/13)- 40(1/13)-70(5/13)-40(1/13)-70(1/13) using fresh seeds WC for 7 d. Seed WC and DS 6 m at 40 germ. 70-40(3/9)-70(1/9)-40(2/9)-70-40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Symphoricarpos p. 218. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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