On Monday I used branches of Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) to form the main structure of a floral design. Several people commented about this callicarpa being different from ones grown in their gardens, so I thought I would share a few more photographs of this shrub, which is native to Southern United States. I took this sequence of images on September 2, 2016.
American beautyberry has a loose, open form. The flowers are said to be insignificant. Pink buds form along leaf axils.
Flower buds. Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) -September 2, 2016
Flowering continues up the stalk as fruit forms from the spent blossoms left behind.
Pink flowers give way to small berries. Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)-September 2, 2016
The clusters of fruit hug the stem. As the green drupes ripen their color shifts to reddish-purple.
Clusters of ripening fruit. Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) -September 2, 2016
For use in a flower arrangement I had to pluck the leaves away. The leaves eventually will drop leaving the bright berries for cardinals and other birds to enjoy.
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)-September 2, 2016
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)-September 12, 2016
The ones around here also grow in the wild and our greenbelts are full of them. I think the berries are one of the most amazing colors in nature.
Interesting. I’ve had volunteers pop up in my garden. You’re so right about that unique color.
An appropriate name, the berries are truly beautiful.
Common names are always interesting.
Beautyberry is a personal favorite, our most common forms in this area have the same striking lavender berries that really stand out in the winter landscape.
The berries are attractive, aren’t they? I think these will disappear before winter. They seem to persist for a long time, but something must suddenly devour them.
My ‘Profusion’ beauty berry looks very similar. It becomes a real star as the berries take on that luminous purple. Loved they way you used them in your last vase.
That looks like a great choice, with many more berries. The callicarpa stems have held up pretty well. guess I caught them at a good stage. The arrangement has been kept outdoors on the screen porch to minimize sweeping of purple berries.
My favorite is with the pink buds!
A tasteful choice Linda!
I REALLY want a beautyberry of my own!
Hope you can locate one easily Kris. The berries might look fun with some of your colorful flowers for vases. (By the way I’ve been stumped a couple of times recently trying to leave a comment, checking off the images. Enjoy your posts.)
Interesting to see the flowers and green berries too, before they change colour. It certainly deserves its name!
The ripened magenta berries are deep inside the shrub, changing to green mid-way the stems, while the tips are still in flower. That part is pretty interesting to see.
I think I’ll try and search out the American version since I didn’t have as much luck with the Asian.
I loved the way they looked in your arrangement!
I desperately want one of those. Great photos.
Thanks Jason. Hope you can find a beautyberry.
I planted a dwarf Asian one but it didn’t make it through the winter.