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Wholesale Indian Currant Shrubs in Michigan
Based in Free Soil, Michigan, Cold Stream Farm is proud to carry Indian Currant Shrubs for wholesale and retail shipping orders. Our Indian Currant (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) can be purchased in bare-root seedlings or as transplants in various sizes and life stages.
About Indian Currant Plants
Indian Currant plants have many different names including coralberry, snapberry, buckleberry, waxberry, buckbrush, wolfberry, Indian-currant snowberry, and Bird’s Eye Bush. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus is a member of the honeysuckle family which has the scientific classification of Caprifoliaceae.
Coral Berries are native to North America, spanning across the central and eastern United States with naturally thriving Indian Currant also found in parts of Mexico and Canada. Often, this plant is seen as a weed, rather than an attractive garden feature.
Look and Dimensions
Healthy Indian Currant shrubs will grow to be roughly 5 feet in height and can reach a width of about 2 feet in diameter. The berries themselves are purple and pink in color, clinging to the branches of the shrub throughout all seasons.
In the middle of the summer, Indian Currant flowers bloom into small, inconspicuous bells of bright pink and white. For best results, pruning plants in the spring typically yields the maximum amount of flower growth.
Best Growing Conditions for Indian Currant
Most Indian Currant plants are very resilient and able to thrive in a variety of conditions. Coral Berries tolerate full sun and shady habitats, ideally being raised in USDA zone 3. Favorable land in Zones 2 to 7 can also successfully sustain Indian Currant shrubs.
Indian Currant plants adapt well to dry rocky conditions and moisture-rich soils. Environments with heavy clay or limey soil can potentially harm Indian Currant, causing mildew to form and damage the plant.
Uses and Perks
Indian Currant plants are often used in erosion control, as the hardy species spread easily in a variety of conditions. The berries are very durable and able to withstand strong currents from rivers, streams, and other bodies of water. Indian Currant is also resistant to salt and wind, making it popular along highways.
Dried Indian Currant roots are often referred to as the “devil’s shoestrings” because they contain mildly sedative elements. Indigenous North Americans used these properties to treat eye pain and stun fish so that they were easier to catch.
The bright pink flowers of Coralberry trees are great for cutting and can be used in wreaths, bouquets, and other flower arrangements. Despite being considered a weed, Coralberry flowers are often grown as dense, ornamental features in a garden.
Wildlife Interaction
The flowers of a Symphoricarpos orbiculatus provide substance for a large variety of wildlife species primarily made up of butterflies, bees, and moths. Although potentially poisonous to humans and other animals, coral berries are popular among birds such as turkeys, robins, grosbeaks, bobwhites, pheasants, grouses, and more.
As Indian Currant grows in dense thickets, the foliage often provides shelter and homes for small rodents and mammals seeking shade and protection. Birds will make their nest in these shrubs, and the plants are particularly good at attracting hummingbirds.
Cons and Challenges
In addition to mildew-related challenges, Indian Currant bushes may be the subject of an aphid or scale infestation. Regular monitoring and active maintenance may be required if a plant were to become infected, but owners should be careful to not over-fertilize or over-water.
Indian Currant plants grow by extending a dense network of roots into the soil. Although great against erosion, this may cause trouble for tight-knit properties with unwanted spread on and below the surface of the earth.
As it is potentially poisonous to humans and small animals, Indian Currant may be harmful to pets, children, or pregnant women handling or consuming the berries.
How to Grow and Maintain Indian Currant
With the ability to thrive through periods of neglect, Indian Currant is a highly durable, low-maintenance plant. It is somewhat tolerant of salt, which makes it popular near roads and highways. Owners should be careful so as to not over-fertilize, as these plants have been growing naturally for centuries.
To protect against fungi and encourage regrowth, it is popular to cut Indian Currant shrubs down to the surface of the soil in the winter. This is less common in hotter and drier climates. Propagating and growing quite easily, it may become necessary to actively prevent the spread of Indian Currant introduced to a new area.
Significant drainage is not required, as light irrigation is typically recommended for maximum results. Use a neutral soil or one that is slightly alkaline when planting Indian Currant transplants.
Coralberry & Indian Rose Currant from Cold Stream Farm
We are proud to supply Indian Currant plants at all stages in life from our farms in Michigan. Cold Stream Farm has no minimum order on coralberry plants and shipments can be combined with orders of other plant species. Get started instantly by buying online or contact us today.
