How many species of Callicarpa are there?

140 species
The genus Callicarpa includes 140 species of shrubs and trees with dense flowerheads of many tiny flowers in white, pink, red, or purple in summer. After the flowers comes the main show: small but brightly colored round fruit that resembles shiny beads. Grow in a shrub border.

Is Callicarpa americana native?

Callicarpa americana is native to the southeastern part of the United States (although not specifically native to Albemarle County), where it grows wild in woodland settings from Maryland to Texas. It thrives in USDA gardening zones 7 through 11.

Is Callicarpa americana poisonous?

Not only is beauty berry not poisonous, it has several household uses. Despite their bright purple color, the berries on a Beauty Berry bush are edible. They aren’t the most delicious fruit, and when raw, their flavor is somewhat astringent. However, the berries make a great jam.

Is beauty berry the same as beauty bush?

Beautyberry or Callicarpa Americana is more than a pretty bush. This plant is a native of the Southern US growing up to eight feet tall with long graceful arching branches. It grows fast in full sun or part shade and is tolerant of different soils and reasonably drought tolerant.

Can you take cuttings from Callicarpa?

You can propagate Callicarpa by seed from September to May. Alternatively, you can propagate by softwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings.

Are beautyberries invasive?

Beautyberry shrubs reseed themselves readily, and the Asian species are considered invasive in some areas. You can easily grow these shrubs from seeds. Collect the seeds from very ripe berries and grow them in individual containers. Keep them protected for the first year, and plant them outdoors the following winter.

Is Callicarpa frost hardy?

For the most part, beautyberry shrubs are winter hardy in the UK. Many varieties, such as Callicarpa dichotoma ˈIssaiˈ, can also tolerate colder temperatures as low as -20 °C.

How big does a Callicarpa grow?

You should expect Callicarpa to grow to an approximate height and spread of 1.8m (6′).

Can you eat Callicarpa berries?

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is an attractive, common landscape shrub native to the southeastern US. It produces edible berries that can be turned into very tasty recipes and leaves that can be used an effective insect repellent.

Is Callicarpa poisonous to dogs?

It is often said that Callicarpa plants are toxic but this is actually something of a myth. The ripe fruits are not poisonous to humans or pets such as cats and dogs. However, raw berries should only be eaten in small amounts. They are best enjoyed cooked into jams or fermented into beautyberry wine.

Are beautyberry invasive?

Is Callicarpa a perennial?

Callicarpa: foliage, flowers and fruits Callicarpa is a deciduous shrub with pointed oval leaves around 5 to 12 cm long arranged opposite each other on the stem.

Is beautyberry toxic to dogs?

Common American Beautyberry Questions Beautyberry is not poisonous or toxic to pets. Many birds and small mammals will eat the fruit and deer will eat the foilage.

How do I know if I have American beautyberry?

American beautyberry has a coarse habit, large-toothed green to yellow-green oval-shaped leaves that turn chartreuse in the fall. Small lilac flowers appear in late summer, and for the next several months, the fruit, which grows in clusters around the stem, ripen to vibrant purple color.

What is the common name of Callicarpa?

Common Name (s): 1 Callicarpa americana var. alba 2 Callicarpa americana var. lactea 3 Callicarpa americana var. purpurea 4 Callicarpa serrata 5 Callicarpa vibrunifolia

What does Callicarpa look like in summer?

Callicarpa americana – Clusters of pink-lavender flowers are followed by green berries at each new leaf node throughout the summer. Callicarpa americana – Large clusters of purple berries ripen in late summer.

What kind of berries do Callicarpa trees have?

Callicarpa dichotoma – White berry cultivar ‘Albifructus’. Because the ripe berries turn bright purple or white, plants are often used as late summer and autumn highlights or focal points in a naturalized or wildlife garden.

Do Callicarpa berries reproduce from seed?

The berries persist after the leaves fall to extend the colorful berry display on bare plants well into late fall. Ripe berries are a source of food for many bird species, raccoons, opossums and small rodents, making them popular for backyard wildlife plantings. Callicarpa species do reproduce from seed and new plants can be grown from seed.