Symplocos paniculata, a New Ornamental Plant Species

Symplocos paniculata is a widespread species in China with unique ornamental characteristics such as dark green leaves, fragrant creamy white flowers, sapphire-blue berries, and rough yellowish-brown and corky bark. It is easy to grow, tolerant to drought condition and high soil salinity and resistant to pests; thus it is considered a potential ornamental plant for urban landscapes. Attentions have been recently paid to the development and utilization of its fruit oil for bio-diesel production; however, little research-based information is available on its potential on ornamental usage. This paper highlights the progress of the selection of novel cultivars and reviews the propagation techniques including seed propagation, cutting, grafting, and tissue culture. Such information plays a vital role in the development of this species for commercial production for green industry.