backyard garden - Reasons to Grow Beautyberries
8 Reasons to Grow Beautyberries in Your Backyard
There is a beautiful park where I live. No, actually, it's something. My friends and I have a running joke that every time we go to the park, we'll bet to guess how many engagements, pregnancy, Christmas cards, and family photos we'll take. Stately willows trail their slender branches over the wide crystal-clear creek, and geese and ducks abound. You can peer down from the suspension bridge and see slender brook trout resting in the aquatic vegetation below. But every fall, one plant always stops park-goers in their tracks.
Beautyberry bushes.
With their long branches of bright green leaves and show-stopping clusters of tiny purple berries, it's no wonder people stop to take photos and 'ooh' and 'ah' over them.
Beautyberry is a large shrub that has beautiful bright green leaves for most of the year. It is covered with tiny flowers that you probably won't even notice in summer. But the real attraction is the beautiful stunning purple berries that come in the fall. There is nothing else like them. Also known as French Mulberry and Early Amethyst, this shrub is not just another ornamental plant. There are some great reasons to add beautyberry to your landscape; Eight great reasons, actually.
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1. It's awesome
Okay, I know I'm over saying it's not just another ornamental plant, but to me, this is the most obvious reason to grow a beautyberry. All other reasons are additional. This plant stops people in their tracks when they see the berries for the first time. Most purples found in nature are very dark; Think eggplant and blackberries. They have an almost black appearance. Beautyberry's berries are a beautiful shade of purple, almost unique in nature; They are an interesting and beautiful addition to any landscape
2. It is a hardy shrub that is easy to grow
The beautyberry bush is surprisingly hardy, which is always a plus when considering new plants to add to your garden. It thrives in warmer climates like Florida and New York and does well in many climates. They do well in partial to full shade, making them a great choice for shady lawns or wooded areas. Beautyberry is drought-tolerant and generally pest free.
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3. It is a native plant
You can commonly find two types of beautyberries in the states: the North American beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) and the Asian beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma). For those looking to plant more native species in their gardens, North American beautyberries are an excellent choice. Most nurseries carry beautyberries, but if you're looking for native beautyberries, they're easy to tell apart. American beautyberry is a very large shrub with very upright branches. Berry clusters also grow in small clusters against the branch. The Asian variety has a 'weeping' appearance in the way the branches grow. (I photographed the Asian variety.) Sweeter than the American variety, the fruit grows in a cluster from a small stem attached to the main branch.
4. Perfect for adding fall color to your landscape
When choosing plants for our gardens and landscapes, the focus is on what blooms in spring and summer. But come fall, these areas suddenly appear dull and lifeless, as our perennials begin to go dormant for the season, or annuals begin to die. At this time, the beautyberry shines, beginning the glorious display of purple berries clustered on its branches in the fall. Berries are good in winter too. Go ahead, moms; There's a new fall beauty in town.
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5. Pollinators
If you're growing a pollinator garden, don't forget to include some beautyberry bushes. Although the flowers are nothing special to look at, they attract plenty of native pollinators. Those dense clusters of flowers feed an army of pollinators and can. In summer, you can often hear the sounds of activity coming from the branches. With the overall decline in insect populations, especially pollinators, anything we can do to help makes a difference. Native bees and butterflies appreciate the nectar you provide, but this plant is great for other wild backyard friends, too.
6. Beautyberry is perfect for attracting songbirds to your yard
Many of us fell in love with bird watching during pandemics. Our obsession continues by hanging feeders and adding plants to our landscape to attract birds to our backyards. Beautyberry is an obvious choice for serious backyard birds. Birds usually wait and eat other food sources first, saving beauty berries until late winter. So you can still enjoy the beautiful purple berries in the fall and even after the snow has fallen, and the birds still have something to eat in the winter. Giving your feathered friends access to a natural, native diet is much better for them than the more popular commercial seed mixes. Not to mention it's cheaper for you.
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7. You can eat those beautiful berries
Seeing such a stunning purple color, one might think that the beautyberry is poisonous. While photographing the shrubs for this article, I was stopped three times by people who wanted to know what the shrub was and whether it was poisonous. I told them, "No, actually, it makes a pretty delicious jam." However, like many berries, eating too much raw can give you an upset stomach. Beautyberry shines when cooked in jams, stews, pies, and meads.
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8. It is a natural and effective bug repellent
Beautyberry leaves contain a compound called calicarbenol, which has been studied by the University of Mississippi as a natural insect repellent. It is said to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and ants. It is also said to be as effective at repelling insects as DEET. In a pinch, you can rub a few leaves on your skin. But there are some natural bug-repellent recipes that are easy to make.
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