Sapphire Berry

Other names

Asiatic Sweetleaf

Growth habit

Tree

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Himalayas to China, South Korea, and SW. Japan

Location

Urban Tree Collection, Zucker Shrub Collection

Source of plant

Woodlanders Inc., Arborvillage Farm Nursery, Ruth Nix

Description

Large shrub or small, low-branched tree becoming wide-spreading at maturity, reaching 10' to 20' inheight and width. Flowers perfect or unisexual, about 1/2" in diamater, creamy white, fragrant, borne in 2"to 3" long panicles in late May into early June. Fruit an ellipsoidal, 1/3" long drupe that is ultramarine,sapphire, bright turquoise-blue, or lapis-lazuli blue, effective in Sept. and Oct. but often stripped bybirds. Fruit production may vary from plant to plant because of the presence of some unisexual flowers.

USDA Hardiness Zone

4

Special characteristics

fruiting characteristics, fragrance