GARDENER'S READING ROOM
Trees & Shrubs

Beautyberry

Now that the explosion of spring colors and the dog days of summer have passed us by, many gardeners are wondering: now what? Is all that lies ahead for us falling leaves and clean up?

Well, never fear! Mother Nature would never leave us a season empty of color. Luckily, she gave us Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’) to carry us through to the winter. With its dark bronzy green foliage and tiny clusters of purplish flowers, Beautyberry works its way into mixed shrub borders with no difficulty at all.

Although attractive in spring and summer, it isn’t until about October-November that Beautyberry puts on its real show. Once the leaves fall, clusters of amazing metallic purple berries cover the shrubs arching branches.

These berries often last into the winter, adding spectacular color to what can sometimes be a gray time of year. Moreover, birds are attracted to the bright berries. (So are kids... the berries, though inedible, are not poisonous.) Beautyberry adapts to a variety of soil types and light conditions. For it to perform its best, give it rich, moist, well-drained soil and full sun.

By Lydia Putnicki
Skylights Autumn 2005, Vol 19, No. 3

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