Symplocos tinctoria aka Horsesugar

Symplocos tinctoria is a shrub or small tree. Its names include sweetleaf and horse sugar. It belongs to the Symplocaceae family. Its native range spans the central and southeastern United States. It grows in woods, swamps, and moist lowland forests. It also grows in ridge woods, sandhills, and swamp edges. It grows at a moderate rate. Garden height ranges from 15–35 feet [4.6–10.7 metres]. Spread reaches 15–20 feet [4.6–6.1 metres]. Some accounts give a smaller height of 20 feet [6.1 metres].

A short trunk holds an open crown of spreading branches. Some branches bend upward as they grow. Young bark is smooth, with gray-brown or green tones. Older bark forms raised lenticels, or pores. It also has small, shallow pits. Reddish-brown twigs have pith split into chambers. They bear large, pointed buds. The green leaves are simple, with one blade each. They grow in turn along the stems. Their edges are smooth, and their undersides are yellow. Leaves fall in colder weather. Some stay on through mild winters. New spring growth may appear before the old leaves drop.

Small, scented flowers grow in dense groups on last year's branches. Cream-colored petals ring many stamens, making the groups showy. In North Carolina, the plant blooms from March through May. The fruit is a small orange-brown drupe, or stone fruit. There, it ripens in late summer, from August through September. Birds and small mammals eat the fruit. Flowers give nectar to butterflies and other pollinators. King's hairstreak caterpillars eat the leaves and leaf buds. Plants need another member of the species to set seed.

Grow sweetleaf in rich soil that drains well but stays moist. It prefers acid soil. One source also allows neutral soil. Full sun or part shade suits it in gardens. It also copes with deep shade and dry soil at times. Listed USDA hardiness zones span 7–9. In Britain, it needs shelter in the warmest areas. It suits spaces left to grow wild and butterfly gardens. Fungi can cause spring galls, but reports note little harm. The plant's fire-flammability rating is medium.

You can eat the leaves raw. They taste sweet, with a slight tartness. One source reports no known hazards. That does not establish safety for pets. People have used the roots in folk fever remedies and tonics. Leaves, bark, and fruit provide yellow dye. Its alum content has also helped fix dyes in fabric. People have used the soft, light wood for turned objects.