
Flower profile
Sweetleaf
Symplocos tinctoria
Sweetleaf is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in February–April.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina
Quick look
Symplocos tinctoria is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or tree. It is recognized by pith of twigs chambered; by foliage not notably aromatic when bruised, leaves finely hairy beneath. Shrubs or trees to 17 m tall by 36 cm diameter at breast height. The largest first-year twigs are under 3 mm across, terminal buds with acute tip, scales ciliate.
- It belongs to the Symplocaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana. NatureServe
- In South Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
- In Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 20 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 669 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #41 among the 111 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 451 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #45 among the 110 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 387 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #96 among the 109 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
Sweetleaf gift ideas
Handmade sweetleaf gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Sweetleaf art print
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Sweetleaf greeting card
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Sweetleaf mug
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Sweetleaf earrings
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Sweetleaf embroidery pattern
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Sweetleaf sticker
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in each of our 3 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | Native | February–April | 669 |
| Mississippi | Native | February–April | 451 |
| Louisiana | Native | few records | 387 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- South Carolina
- No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
- Mississippi
- No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OK (S1), TN (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “The foliage has a sweet taste.” NC State Extension
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records sweetleaf in 15 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
South Carolina counties with USDA records: Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Georgetown, Greenville, Horry, Jasper, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Williamsburg.
Mississippi counties with USDA records: Forrest, Holmes, Jackson, Lauderdale, Pearl River, Tishomingo, Wilkinson.
Louisiana counties with USDA records: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Union, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Feliciana, Winn.
More South Carolina flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SYTI.
- iNaturalist, Symplocos tinctoria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Symplocos tinctoria (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- South Carolina: South Carolina State Plant Pest List, plants (S.C. Code Regs. 27-135; Clemson Dept. of Plant Industry).
- Mississippi: Mississippi Noxious Weed List (2 Miss. Code R. 1-3-01-136.01).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Symplocos tinctoria (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Ryan Watson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.


