Leaves turn yellow and drop in the fall 3. Beautyberry attracts birds and butterflies, and has a casual rambling look that works well in cottage-garden landscaping style. You may be able to find American beautyberry seeds at local garden centers or you can order them online. Beautyberry commonly occurs on a wide variety of sites; moist to dry, open to shady. If you have a plant (or if your neighbor has a plant), you can hand-pick the mature fruit in the fall to source seeds. Native to Florida. If you're looking for a dazzling plant to attract birds to your yard, look no further than beautyberry. Learn how to get instant curb appeal with fast growing plants and landscaping techniques! Documented bees include Agapostemon splendens, Augochlora pura, Dialictus placidensis, Halictus ligatus, Megachile brevis pseudobrevis and the none-native Apis mellifera (honeybee) (Deyrup et al. Availability: Widely cultivated. In the wild, this shrub grows along the edges of woodland areas. A very distinctive feature of beautyberry is the strong, unpleasant aroma of crushed leaves. It just wasn’t fall in College Station without American beautyberries colorizing the post oak forests around me. The plant’s foliage offers cover for small wildlife. There's also a variety of C. americana called ‘Lactea’ that has white, pearlescent fruit. Apparently many berry-eating critters aren't wild about the taste either, usually feeding on them later in winter - and giving us more time to enjoy their color in our landscapes. Appearing best when massed together, American beautyberry can also be used as a screen or specimen. Not choosy about water, beautyberry is considered moderately drought-tolerant once established. American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) $3.89 A fast growing perennial that can be pruned way back (even to the ground) by deer or shears and rebound in no time. Look no further than the exquisite American Beautyberry – a cold-hardy deciduous shrub that produces a striking cluster of plump purple berries throughout Florida and the southern United States. NOCOMPANION PLANT SUGGESTIONS: Azalea, wild coffee, blue porterweed, chenille plant, variegated arboricola, and dwarf firebush. American beautyberry has been cultivated into varieties with purple or … It blooms from spring to summer (Wunderlin, 2003). American beautyberry shrubs (Callicarpa americana, USDA zones 7 through 11) bloom in late summer, and although the flowers aren’t much to look at, the jewel-like, purple or white berries are dazzling.The fall foliage is an attractive yellow or chartreuse color. Another Asian species, C. dichotoma, has smaller leaves and is more compact (3 to 5 feet) than C. americana and C. japonica. Finding the non-native species for purchase may be difficult depending on your area. The branches form long arches that bend toward the ground. American Beautyberry is a versatile, easy-to-grow native shrub that birds love. Yes, but the berries of American beautyberry aren't particularly tasty though you could use them to make jelly. You seldom saw them in landscapes, and you never saw them in nurseries. This plant is deciduous and very cold-hardy, fine anywhere in Florida. If you've been a subscriber for a while, you may remember me talking about it. Since it takes most any kind of light, this is one plant that can be You can also do a hard pruning in early spring (late March). American beautyberry grows at a moderate pace in full sun to partial shade. like it better in the ground with year-round greenery surrounding it. It is also a great plant for the shade, as well as full sun. It also has a white-fruited cultivar, called ‘Albifructus’ or ‘Albescens’. Branches form long arches bending toward the ground and lend almost a weeping habit to older, established shrubs. American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana.This large bush makes a statement all year round, particularly during the fall when its berries are beginning to ripen. This Florida native is scientifically known as Callicarpa americana, and its bright purple fruits are some of the most striking around. Mix the berries with at least five times as much water and pour into a blender. Its ease of maintenance and popularity with birds makes American beautyberry especially useful for the naturalized garden where it blends in well with pines, oaks, and darker leaved shrubs. Callicarpa americana L. – American beautyberry Subordinate Taxa. It is easy to see how beautyberry got its common name. Beautyberry bushes, scientifically known as Callicarpa, are very interesting and attractive shrubs desired for the abundant clusters of brightly colored, pearl-like berries that form on the bush during fall and persist through winter.They are super hardy, adaptable, and exceptionally easy to grow. The leaves can be crushed and rubbed on the skin as a natural insect repellent. Callicarpa americana, commonly called beautyberry, is a loose open shrub valued for its spectacular fruits. Leave a "natural look" to it by branch trimming occasionally for shape and size (rather than shearing with hedge trimmers). Ecological Restoration Notes: A relatively common shrub of forest edges nearly throughout South Florida. Prepare the seeds in a blender. The bush is often 3-5 feet tall, and as big around, however it can reach heights up to 9 feet in proper growing conditions. The two most common species of beautyberry are our native American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma). It is generally overlooked as a landscape plant, however, when used it adds color and texture to the landscape, as well as food for wildlife. Native Habitats: UF/IFAS. But it does best with regular irrigation, and doesn't even mind "wet feet" (areas slow to drain after a rain). GOOD SNOWBIRD PLANT? Beautyberry prefers rich soils, but will also grow in poor, sandy soils. The deciduous leaves are light green, coarse, and fuzzy. Beautyberry is a common shrub native to Florida and pretty much the entire southeastern United States. tempted to munch on it there). The relatively insignificant flowers develop into prolific bright violet to magenta berry-like drupes which encircle the stem. Beautyberry also tolerates clay soils as long as they don't remain too wet for long periods of time. The ultimate guide to low-maintenance plants, ©2020 South-Florida-Plant-Guide.com Its flowers are a nectar source for butterflies and bees, while its dense clusters of berries provide food for birds and deer in late summer and fall. The ultimate guide to low-maintenance plants and landscaping! This plant has no children Legal Status. Purple beautyberry is a more compact, neater shrub but otherwise the two are very similar. American beautyberry. The underside of the leaves may be covered with wooly like hairs. I've had this gorgeous beautyberry shrub for several years. It also occurs in Bermuda, Cuba, and Mexico. Also known as French mulberry, American beautyberry is a woody shrub found in pinelands and hammocks throughout Florida. Left alone it can grow anywhere from 3 to 8 feet tall and wide - but you can keep it about 3 or 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. The beautyberry is low-maintenance, easy to grow, and a magnet for birds during the cold months. 1. Beautyberry can be found growing in woodlands, pinelands, and thickets from Virginia to Arkansas south to Florida. Yup. American beautyberry is appreciated for its fall interest – bright yellow leaves and, of course, the lovely bb-sized purple berries. Too much fertilizer promotes more fo… Native American Indians used all parts of the Beautyberry plant for medicinal … General Landscape Uses: Accent flowering shrub in residental and commerical landscapes. Because a beautyberry bush can grow very wide, situate it about 4 feet from neighboring plants. Allow plenty of room for this large, sprawling shrub unless regular pruning can be provided to control its size. A favorite place for the American beautyberry is under open stands of pines. American beautyberry grows quickly to 5’ tall or more and is winter hardy to zone 7. It's Using short bursts, run the blender at its lowest speed. In a garden setting, beautyberry prefers moist, well-drained soils with a fair amount of organic matter present. The funny thing was, though, that everyone took them for granted. Looking for a Florida native plant that will attract butterflies, birds and your neighbors’ admiration? This makes it a great plant for attracting birds into your garden. 2002).. Plant it in zones 6 to 10 and enjoy the flowers and berries in spring and fall. Come away from the house 3 or 4 feet, and in from walks or drives 4 or 5 feet. It is a pioneer and grows in newly disturbed forests, along forest margins, and along fencerows. Several species of beautyberry are commonly grown. Though native plants don't require it, fertilize 3 times a year - spring, summer and fall - with a top quality granular fertilizer. It makes a gorgeous sweet gift for everyone on your list. This plant is deciduous and very cold-hardy, fine anywhere in Florida. However the berries appear during cooler months, often remaining on the plant after the leaves have fallen off. Ebooks that help you grow, design and enjoy your landscape! Beautyberry jelly can be made from the native American Beautyberry shrub. Callicarpa japonica, a non-native plant, typically has purple fruit and grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide; the cultivar ‘Leucocarpa’ has white fruit. Fun fact — the fruits on beautyberry are called drupes; drupes contain one to several seeds with each seed enclosed in a hard endocarp. Species Overview. With magenta berries putting on a brilliant fall-to-winter show, this shrub holds up to its name. Pale lavender-pink flowers appear along the branches from spring to summer and then mature into jewel-like fruits by September. They may be overwhelmed by the shrub's long, arching branches which, on a mature American beautyberry, will weep toward the ground. The thinning-type pruning method works best for beautyberry since regular shearing removes flowers and d… This will … American Beautyberry Verbenacea Other Names: Dwarf Mulberry, Beautybush, Filigree, French Mulberry, Beautyberry Introduction: Purple berries clinging around stems with bright green foliage make Callicarpa americana stand out from late summer to winter. In addition to C. americana, several other species of beautyberry will grow well in Florida. in a mass planting, and the abundance of berries will give a colorful American Beautyberry, sometimes called French Mulberry, Callicarpa americana is a US native deciduous shrub that grows wild from Maryland to Florida and west through Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. Beautyberries bloom in summer from May to July but this year in Florida they bloomed well into August. That’s where I grew up, and these plants were a part of my autumns. American Beautyberry Will Give You Butterflies. This shrub is a rarity in south Florida in that it's deciduous...losing its leaves in winter. American beautyberry grows at a moderate pace in full sun to partial shade. The drupes of C. japonica are slightly smaller (2-3 mm in diameter), while those of C. dichotoma are much smaller (1-2 mm in diameter). Pruning will keep the plant more compact, but be sure to prune before the plant flowers. Because it grows wide, avoid placement too close to other plants. American Beautyberry: (Callicarpa americana) is native to the southeastern United States where it can occasionally be spotted growing wild. The showy clusters of shiny purple fruits are densely packed and encircle the woody stems. An ebook by Chase Landreauthor of South-Florida-Plant-Guide.com. In terms of size, C. americana has the largest fruit (4-5 mm in diameter). Beautyberry, also called American mulberry, is native to flatwoods and hammocks but thanks to birds it has spread near and far. The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Beautyberry is a sprawling, small shrub (3 to 8 feet tall; 4 to 8 feet wide) that works well in borders or as a specimen plant. Add top soil or organic peat moss to the hole when you plant. This Florida native is scientifically known as Callicarpa americana, and its bright purple fruits are some of the most striking around. Attractive to wildlife, easy-care American beautyberry is known for its bright fuschia-purple berry clusters during the cooler months of the year. Beautyberry a rapidly-growing North American native forms a rather loosely-arranged, rounded shrub, five to eight feet tall and equally wide (Fig. Larval host for for spring azure butterflies and snowberry clearwing moths. It's found in wooded areas and is easily identifiable, depending on the time of year, by the clusters of flowers that in turn produce large clusters of purple berries found along its branches. It's in the Vervain family (Verbenaceae). It is somewhat fire-tolerant and increases in abundance after burns. You can plant beautyberry at any time during the year, and it will be drought-tolerant once established. 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