Beautyberry

Take a walk on the edge of the woods in early fall,

particularly near an old cemetery or abandoned landscape.

Your eyes will likely zone in on some iridescent purple to

magenta berries. They encircle the stems in clusters and

their abundance will impress you.

Beautyberry is a native shrub not used much these

days, but its fall color is as unique as any you’ll see.

There are three Asian species of (Callicarpa)beautyberry

that are more common to find in nurseries. They are more

winter hardy but also grow well here.

They grow in full sun to quite shady conditions.

Fruiting is more prolific when plants receive adequate

sunlight and moisture. Quite often they can be found on the

edges of swampy areas. Beautyberries are a low water user

and can tolerate drier sites as well.

These deciduous shrubs can grow to eight or nine feet

but four feet is more typical. Growth habit is loose and

spreading. Plants respond well to pruning and can be kept

where you want them. Pruning also makes their growth more

dense, which is pleasing to many.

Serrated leaves emerge from the stems in pairs. Fall

foliage is yellowish green, but the berries are the real

treat to look at.

Squirrels, deer, bobwhite quail and many songbirds

love them and can eliminate the gorgeous color in short

order. Deer are fond of the foliage as well. Flowers are

rich in nectar and attract butterflies.

They can be a culinary treat also. Many people think

they are poisonous, but they’re not. When consumed fresh

the berries have little taste other than being somewhat

astringent and sour.

Cooking changes things. They make a fabulous jelly

with a delicate flavor somewhere in between apple and

cherry. The color loses some of its vibrancy during

processing, but jams and jellies still are a pleasing

bright pinkish red.

Odor of crushed foliage is not what I would consider

delicate. Beautyberry is related to lantana. Foliage from

many lantana cultivars can offend our olfactory nerves and

so can beautyberry leaves.

All is not lost, however. Chemicals inside the leaves

are highly effective for repelling mosquitoes and biting

flies. Research has even shown compounds isolated from

beautyberry to be effective in controlling fire ants.

Simply crushing the leaves and rubbing the juice on

our skin is safe. It’s probably less dangerous than

lathering our skin or our pets with DEET, the active

ingredient in most commercial repellants.

I’d say a little bitter smell beats getting eaten up

by mosquitoes or ticks. In this slow economy the price is

right too.

Researchers at the University of Mississippi are

working with this native shrub in hopes of making a buck

from it. They have identified three compounds with strong

repellant properties. Maybe we’ll see a beautyberry insect

repellant on the shelves of our local stores in the future.

Don’t look for it anytime soon. Approving a chemical

for use is a tedious process. The EPA has many regulations,

meaning it might take several years to get something

licensed. In the meantime you can collect your own and

maybe enough berries for a batch of homemade jelly.