I mentioned several years ago about finding plenty of Sparkleberry
trees/shrubs on my property which although locals recite eating them by the
handful in the forties and fifties, I haven't seen a berry here although
they do bloom. I bought a piece of property seventeen miles WNW of here
and was surprised to find Sparkleberries growing and bearing plenty of
berries in a small patch.
Ironically I live right on the USDA Hardiness Zone line between 7b and 8a.
The producing shrubs are in 7b and the non-producing shrubs are in 8a. I am
doubtful that this is the reason but it is something which defies any
logical explanation I can think of other than herbicide or pesticide use
locally.
Doc Lisenby