Bloomipedia
Sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria)
Photo: Ryan Watson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Sweetleaf

Symplocos tinctoria

Sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) is a shrub or small tree in the Symplocaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

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 March–April.

15states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
4,634U.S. sightings*

*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 Mississippi, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March. 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 #44 among the 171 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 451 research-grade sightings of it in Mississippi, ranking #49 among the 154 flowers on our Mississippi list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 387 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #100 among the 154 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (285 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
South CarolinaNativefew records (28)669
MississippiNativeMarch451
LouisianaNativefew records (18)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?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “The foliage has a sweet taste.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

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.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Sweetleaf a low shade tolerance and none drought tolerance. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 6.5 and winter lows down to -22 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
None
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.5 to 6.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-22 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
178
Annual precipitation range
40 to 100 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Fall to Fall

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SYTI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 350 counties across 14 states; the most are in Georgia (70), North Carolina (57), Alabama (44).

More South Carolina flowers

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

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Native

🌼 Blooms in SC: June–July
American holly (Ilex opaca)

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🌷 Flowering tree

🌷 Grown in South Carolina gardens
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Southern magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora

🌷 Flowering tree

🌷 Grown in South Carolina gardens

Sources