Color Me Disappointed
Nearly all the time, when I create a blog, it is the result of research. I’m learning new things, right along with you. Tonight I learned that the bushes I am pleased with – being beautiful and native, are actually not native. Well, that certainly is a surprise!
The Impostor Revealed
The telling detail which revealed the impostor to me, is the berry clusters that are held on stems away from the main stem. In the native, American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, the berries are grouped in clusters right on the main stem, looking like poufs on a French poodle. All these photographs are of my Purple Beautyberry, Callicarpa dichotoma, native to the Far East. In any event, these beautiful bushes provide the same sustenance to wildlife that the natives do.
Purply-Pink
In the spring, the Beautyberry bush is covered with diminutive, purply-pink flowers which attract many bees and butterflies. Being so small the flowers create a soft wash of pink, over the green of the shrubs.
Pollinators
Those bees and butterflies are happy to have the blossoms, and I’m happy that they get attracted to my gardens.
Apple Green Berries
As the summer marches on, the flowers fade and turn to tiny apple green berries.
And The Beauty Of The Berry
By early October, the apple green berries have turned into glowing magenta clusters of fruit.
For Emergency Only
Song birds put off eating the Beautyberries until there is nothing left to eat. Perhaps these berries are the Brussels sprouts of the bird world. Once they are faced with nothing but the Beautyberries, they will flock to the bushes and eat every single morsel.
Snow Cover
Once snow covers everything, and all the dogwood berries, spicebush berries, and sumac berries are gone, the songbirds are happy that I’ve planted Beautyberry bushes for them!
4 responses to “A Beauty Of A Berry”
Brenda, I am so glad you brought this up! I had tons of beautyberry in my yard in Florida, and I am shocked when folks here point to the wimpy exotic and call it ‘beautyberry!’ The exotic berry clusters can’t hold a candle to the native bush. Imposter is right!
Lucky you Sue! I’m going to be in search of the native beautyberry and get it planted in my yard! It was about 23 years ago, when my parents moved to Florida, that I first became acquainted with beautyberry. Mom and Dad had some in their yard, and just raved about it. I saw that it was a native, so I got some, not knowing that I needed to purchase the bushes with caution. Lesson learned!
I had no idea there’s an Asian species. Now I wonder why anyone felt the need to import it when the native species is so attractive.
Oh Steve, up until the day that I wrote this post, I had no idea as well. For me, ignorance certainly was bliss. Your question of why anyone felt the need to import an Asian Beautyberry is what is on my mind now. I suppose it is too much to ask that others in the world have the same goals for a world in balance. I try so very hard not to be pessimistic. You keep taking those beautiful photographs! They are such an inspiration!