Symphorycarpos x doorenboosii Magical Berry Christmas - Doorenbos coralberry

Like the other symphorines in the 'Magical' series, the Symphoricarpos Magical Berry Christmas is covered with large clusters of round berries. Still, its berries are almost red, and they persist until December. This compact bush is perfect for adding a touch of magic and colour to the garden during the "off-season", mainly because it feeds certain birds. Plant it in a small free hedge, in a large mass of plants, even in the shade of large trees. This symphorine can also be displayed in a large pot on the balcony or patio.

The Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii is a plant from the Caprifoliaceae family resulting from the crossbreeding between the Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus, native to the Eastern Rocky Mountains in the USA and the S. chenaultii, a horticultural hybrid. All these plants are perfectly cold-resistant and remarkably adaptable: they are easy to live within all regions and tolerate a wide range of soils and exposures.

The Symphoricarpos 'Magical Berry Christmas' 'Kolmaberc' is part of a series of recent hybrids selected in the Netherlands for their generous fruiting. It is a deciduous bush with a slightly suckering stump that is fast-growing. Reaching about 1.25 m in height and 1 m in width at maturity, it spreads laterally without theoretical limits. Its habit is generally rounded, dense and compact, supported by upright, well-branched stems that arch over time. The foliage, deciduous, appears in spring and falls in autumn. It consists of small oval leaves measuring 2 to 4 cm long. Dark green on the top, they are lighter on the underside and turn yellow before falling. The flowering, inconspicuous to human eyes, attracts pollinating insects. It takes place in May-June, in the axils of the leaves, in clusters of tiny bells. After pollination, they give way to round and spongy fruits measuring 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, becoming almost red when ripe—these berries, which are the beauty of the bush, often last until December. Inedible for humans, they are appreciated by birds and game.

This 'Magical Berry Christmas' symphorine is a resistant and highly hardy bush, capable of adapting to many growing conditions and all regions, including the average mountain or the hardships of the Mediterranean summer when planted in the shade. This bush easily integrates into a small free hedge or a large, unpretentious shrub mass in a garden that leaves room for nature. Many other deciduous or evergreen shrubs, with flowers or berries, will accompany it: spireas, shrubby honeysuckles, botanical roses, coloured Berberis... The branches loaded with fruits of the symphorines can also be used to make beautiful autumn bouquets.