Mother Nature's punk side

Sometimes I come across a plant that makes me smile because I like to imagine Mother Nature having a crazy fun day at the time of its creation. A few years ago, I saw a beautyberry bush (Callicarpa americana) and smiled. I mean, really... the color of those berries! You just don't see it very often, occurring naturally.

Last year, I bought a related species of the native shrub for myself and this fall, it was large enough to put on some berries. The color of the berries is pretty enough, but the fall color of the leaves contrasts nicely, too.

I love this shrub and so do the birds and butterflies. The berries aren't the first choice of birds, but  if other food sources are scarce, they're quite content to eat them. The larvae of particular species of butterflies native to Asia eat the leaves.

Calicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst'

American beautyberry contains the chemical callicarpenal, a natural mosquito and tick repellent.

GROW IT

Common name:  Beautyberry

Botanical name: Callicarpa sp.

Hardiness zone:  5-8

Height:  3-4 feet

Grow it:  Grows best in neutral to slightly acidic soil in sun to part shade. Average water needs.  White to pink blooms in mid-summer, with berries in late summer into fall. Unless eaten by birds, berries will remain after leaves have been lost.