American beauty berry bush

American beautyberry is appreciated for its fall interest — bright yellow leaves and, of course, the lovely bb-sized purple berries.

American beauty berry bush: A bushy, deciduous open and

Native American tribes used the roots, leaves, and branches to treat malarial fevers and rheumatism. The roots were used to treat dizziness, stomachaches and dysentery. In the early s, farmers crushed the leaves and placed them under the harnesses of horses to repel mosquitoes. Place trays or pots in a warm, sunny area. Keep the soil lightly moist via a spray-bottle mister until the seedlings are transplant size, about three months after sowing.

For direct sowing, you can sow seeds in fall, before first frost or in spring, after all danger of frost has passed. You can propagate beautyberry from softwood cuttings in spring. Softwood is a stem that is not brand new nor old and woody. Cut four- to six-inch stems from a healthy plant. Fill small pots with an all-purpose soil mix and insert and remove a pencil to create a hole for the cutting.

Remove the lower leaves from your cutting, dip the cleanly cut end into rooting hormone and place in the hole. Create a mini greenhouse by placing a plastic dome or clear plastic bag over the pot or pots. Put it in bright, indirect light.

American beauty berry bush: American Beautyberry is a stunning deciduous

Read more about propagation techniques for this shrub here. American beautyberry likes rich, organic soil, but it will tolerate less-delicious soils, as long as they are well-draining. Depending where you live and plant it, it may take full sun, though it will need lots of water. Place the root ball in the hole and backfill with native soil.

In warmer areas, this shrub may be pruned back in late winter to about two feet less than the desired size. Beautyberry is drought-tolerant once established, though it performs better with more hydration. American Beautyberry Bush Live Plant. You can find live shrubs in three-gallon containers available from Fast Growing Trees. You may see minor leaf spots Atractilina callicarpae or black mold Meliola cookeanawhich can be treated with a fungicide.

This shrub looks spectacular in mass plantings, and it can be used in reclamation work and for erosion control. This large shrub with its long, arched, purple-berry-laden branches is a lovely piece of native American flora. And to find more ornamental woody shrub choices for your backyard, be sure check out some of these guides:. Gretchen Heber.

I have this is a very sunny spot in my garden in San Antonio and had to water it twice a day this summer to keep it alive. Thanks for this article…very helpful! Hi Christine! In our neck of the woods, these plants do better with some shade. So, I planted about 25 seedlings that I purchased from my state environmental group. Only have sprouted the first year.

Plus, they seem to start new from the ground every year. The other 4 or 5 have new sprouts. Both the leaves and the berries of Callicarpa americana have been used as an insect repellent by native Americans and pioneers. Mashed up, and rubbed onto the skin, they are effective at repelling mosquitoes.

American beauty berry bush: Callicarpa americana, commonly called the American

USDA research has backed up this claim. You can make a homemade salve that will serve as a mosquito repellent by following the recipes on one of the links below:. Natural Beautyberry Bug Repellent thegrownetwork. Natural Mosquito Repellent txnativeplants. However you choose to use beautyberries, however, be sure to leave some for the birds and other wildlife.

They are useful for humans, but these are one of those plants that are most useful when left in your garden to boost biodiversity and create a natural balance in the ecosystem. Want to add an established beautyberry shrub to your backyard? You can purchase mature beautyberry plants from Nature Hills Nursery here. Facebook Pinterest. Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter.

By Jackie Carroll. Beautyberry Shrub Info - Tips For Growing American Beautyberries American beautyberry shrubs Callicarpa americanaUSDA zones 7 through 11 bloom in late summer, and although the flowers aren't much to look at, the jewel-like, purple or white berries are dazzling. Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!

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American beauty berry bush: Beautyberry shrubs generally do fine either

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Plants with white berries are found in cultivation under the name Callicarpa americana var. Propagation can be accomplished by making traditional cuttings; or germinating fully ripened purple seeds in pots or growing flats; or by scattering seeds on bare ground in a suitable area and lightly covering them or stepping on them to gently press them into the soil.

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