The coralberry is a cousin to the common snowberry and has been used as a staple in gardens since the Victorian era. This plant is a native of North America and has an international cousin in China. The bush derives its name from the coral color of the berries in spring. Unfortunately this bush is often called a weed because it is so prolific in some areas. What is a weed but a plant in a place you do not want it to be, so properly planted; this lovely plant is a welcome addition to the garden.

The coralberry is a shrub and has small pretty flowers in the summer season. The gray leaves are coarse and the bark starts out as a green-brown turning to a pretty red-brown color in the fall. The barks sheds and peels as the bush ages, adding a new dimension to the visual effect of the plant.

Strategic and vigorous pruning will keep this bush in tip top shape. If it is not pruned vigorously, it will become scraggly and look a mess. Keeping the shrub tidy will encourage new flowering and leaves throughout the growing season. 

The fruit of the coralberry start out as tiny little white berries. The berries deepen in color in the fall to a deep coral in the northern climates and a deep purple-red in warmer climates. The berries are slightly toxic and can cause stomach cramps in humans and small mammals. Planting this bush in an area where children play is not a good idea. 

Coralberry is prone to powdery mildew in some of the moister climates, though it seems to be immune to it in the wild. The bush does very well in sun or light shade and prefers an alkaline soil. The water requirements for this shrub are moderate to dry. 

The foliage turns a brilliant red in the fall and adds a touch of color to your garden landscape. The bright red of this bush is quite remarkable as the weather turns cooler and other plants start to loose their leaves. Cut branches make wonderful displays in the house.

One of the plusses with coralberry is that it is hardy to climates with very cold dips in temperature. The berries add a delightful visual dimension to a winter garden when all the other plants have gone into a deep sleep. Decorating your garden for all seasons is easy with this shrub since the berries cling to the plant throughout the winter. Birds are fond of the berries. The berries are a food source for the birds and help to sustain them through the winter. 

In order to obtain seed from this bush, collect the berries in fall and winter and lightly mash them to remove the seeds. Dry the seeds in a cool, dark place for planting in the spring. The seeds are difficult to germinate and stratification is necessary. 
In order to keep the bush at a low height and full leafing in the spring, it should be pruned back to the knee about every five years or so. If the bush gets to scraggly, prune it to the ground. The bush will rebound fuller than ever in the spring.