Many gardens sport a Beautyberry (Calliocarpa americana). Native to a large portion of the Eastern United States, the promise of lurid purple berries is hard to resist. Add to that the buzzing of native pollinators around the flowers in the form of rare Atala butterflies in my garden and the natural mosquito repellants in the leaves of the Beautyberry, these shrubs are a must have in my garden. I was surprised to see the Atala butterflies sipping the flower nectar.
Ā 
Continuing with the purple theme, I added foliage and flowers from Purpleheart (Setcresea); accenting with a few white flowers and dark green foliage from the Tropical Gardenia (Tabernaemontana divericata) and a few stems of the chartruese little black dress of the garden – Alabama Sunset Coleus.
Voila, the beauty of Beautyberries and a welcome sign of summer winding down in my garden.
The Shrub Queen 
Very pretty! How long do the berries stay on?
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Quite a while they will dry on the stem in the vase. The key is not to handle them too much.
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Every time I see that shrub at this time of year, I wonder why I am not growing it. i know it gets pretty big but I’ve got a couple of spots where I’ve removed things where it might work. It certainly makes an arrangement that is both dramatic and simple, not an easy thing to achieve.
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Thank you. I have a feeling you are too far north for this to be hardy.
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I live in the northeastern US but have never seen beauty berry. Maybe we are TOO far north! It is definitely an eyecatcher! Gardenias are heavenly! I’ve only seen them once in a botanical garden conservatory though.
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Thanks, You probably are too far north. I think Eliza has one in western Mass. No Gardenias there for sure!
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Never seen these berries before. Can you eat them or are they just ornamental? look lovely!!
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In Florida jam is made from the berries. I have never eaten one the description of the flavor runs from bitter to astringent (even in jam) I leave them for the birds.
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I love purple and chartreuse together – so pretty!
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Me too!
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I thought the first picture was perfect, and then you started adding more…..I wonder how many of us who do not already have Calliparca are seriously considering adding one if conditions are right in our gardens? This vase is stunning.
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Such a nice use of beautyberries! Ours are still green and won’t change to purple for a while which is nice as they look especially nice against the leaves as they turn gold in autumn.
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Thank you, the BB I had in Atlanta did the same thing. I don’t know why these produce fruit so early.
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Oh my goodness! Those lush berries! I have two rather pathetic specimens, which have abtu ten berries a piece each year – what do I do to get this magnificent display!!!
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I was amazed by the fruit here compared to my former garden in Atlanta GA (600 miles north). I did absolutely nothing to the shrub, I have been planting for native pollinators which may explain the berries. Planted in straight sand, I don’t think I put any fertilizer on it, but it does get fairly regular water.
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I have noticed on other American blogs how much bigger and better the gorgeous callicarpa berries are than any I see here. They look unreal, so shiny like Liquorice Allsorts. Lovely arrangement and stunning butterfly.
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Thank you, I think Florida has the champion Beautyberries, these put the ones from my former garden to shame.
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I suppose I should have expected you to feature beautyberry. I have never seen it before. It is available in mail order catalogues now. Even though it is not good for anything, I really like what it looks like. Does that count as being good for something? I mean, if it is in catalogues, that means other people grow it, and other people would not grow it it if was not good for anything.
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Beautyberry is native to the Southeastern US and a bit further north and west – fairly common in shade gardens for the berries. In Florida jam is made from the berries – I have never had any, it is always described as astringent.
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The main reason I never bothered to procure beautyberry is that I read that the berries are useless.
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Oh your callicarpa is delightful! I have one here but am seriously considering removing it as underperforming is an understatement!! Yours would be wonderful in a vase even on on its own – I do so love the colour of those berries
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I think a simple vase of berries would be wonderful. The shrub is a bit rangy, I am trying to give it some shape.
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I love this arrangement, Amelia! I also love Callicarpa, which I’ve yet to find in my local garden centers even though there are species suited to my climate. I must find some purple berries for my own garden, even if I have to resort to mail order.
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I will post the horrible conditions this Beautyberry grows in..the other one – away from my house and dogs usually has no berries I see. Details!
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Nice, full callicarpa. Love that gorgeous butterfly.
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Thank you
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Lovely mix. I am never sure about the berries as their colour seem too unnatural in our autumn/ winter. Looks great in a vase though
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Thanks, that is their natural color, there is a white berried cultivar.
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I had no idea that beautyberry grew in Florida…I’ve seen it up north.
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I think they do better down here, the berries are easily three times the quantity I got in my northern garden.Vero hasn’t embraced native plant material as of yet.
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Lovely choice š I’ve seen beautyberries in gardens around here in Manchester – the berries seem to stay on the plant for the winter as long as we don’t get snow. I’m thinking about whether to grow in my garden. Didn’t know they were native to the US. Love Bec š
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