How much sun does Common sweetleaf need?

Common sweetleaf grows best in part sun conditions.

When does Common sweetleaf bloom?

Common sweetleaf blooms in February, March, and April.

Where is Common sweetleaf native?

Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) is native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 10 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Common sweetleaf host?

Common sweetleaf is a larval host plant for King's Hairstreak.

Common sweetleaf

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Symplocos tinctoria

Last reviewed: October 2026

Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) is a perennial shrub native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 10 more states. It blooms in February, March, and April. The flowers draw bees.

Toxicity unknown

Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

120"–240" H × 96"–180" W

Bloom

Feb, Mar, Apr

Native to

AL, AR, DE, FL and 10 more states

Pollinators

bees

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central Plains Piedmont Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Eastern Temperate Forests Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain

Sweetleaf is a semi-evergreen shrub to small tree with leathery leaves that persist through much of winter and clusters of small, fragrant yellow flowers in late winter. It grows in the sandy understory of pine and oak woods.

Growing Common sweetleaf

Grow Common sweetleaf in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 120 to 240 inches tall and spread 96 to 180 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for King's Hairstreak.

The early flowers are an important nectar source for bees, and the foliage is a documented larval host for the King's Hairstreak butterfly, a specialist that relies almost entirely on this plant.

Common questions

How much sun does Common sweetleaf need?: Common sweetleaf grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Common sweetleaf bloom?: Common sweetleaf blooms in February, March, and April.
Where is Common sweetleaf native?: Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) is native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 10 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Common sweetleaf host?: Common sweetleaf is a larval host plant for King's Hairstreak.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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