My quest for anything Autumnal continues and the Beautyberry (Calliocarpa americana) satisfied my Fall in the garden desires this week displaying its wares at their lurid purple peak. Days have been numbered for the branches loaded with purple fruit that were too close to the house. I planted this beside the door from our screened porch as it is reputed to deter mosquitoes. I sometimes put a few crushed leaves in my shoes when working in the garden and it does seem to help.
The guy next to the vase-a mythological figure gifted to my husband by some friends from South America.
This is a rangy shrub that is difficult to prune into cooperation, I think there are still some structural decisions to be made. There were so many berries on the branches the vase was actually heavy from the weight of the fruit.
Adding to my happiness, I found a touch of fall color on the foliage. Just a touch, can’t get too excited. Joining the plethora of purpleness in the vase are: in green with purple backs, Oyster Plants or Moses in a Cradle (Rhoeo or some botanist changed the name) and a sprig of Setcresea or Purple Queen (tired of botanists-think they are both Transcandentias now, but it won’t keep me up nights)
Celebrating our Fall potential by starting seeds for my butterfly garden.
The mermaid watches over everything and encourages the seeds to sprout and grow. The winter butterfly garden will have (hopefully) Heirloom Lavendar Cactus Zinnias, Phlox drummondi, Sea Star Asters, Lime Basil, Petunia excelsa, Moonvine and Coral Vine. I think I need to find some yellows or lime greens to temper the color mix. Any thoughts?
Happy Fall Gardening.
The Shrub Queen 
I will be covered in Beauty Berries leaves today.
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hope it helps
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Love the purple leaves with the beautyberry. Mine is just starting to color up, so far behind yours, but amazing that we can grow something similar given our different zones. It is a well-named plant. 🙂
Lime thoughts: Coleus ‘Lime Time’, I grew a lovely one this year that came in a mix. ‘Lime Envy’ zinnias and Nicotiana alata ‘Deep Lime’ … I once grew Nicotiana langsdorffii and loved it.
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Hmmm, wouldn’t you think Beautyberry would ripen in your garden before mine – due to a shorter season and the size of these, outrageous, people make jelly from them there are so many. Thank you for the LIme Thoughts, I love all – actually tried to find the Zinnias – no luck but am in search of the Nicotiana. I have been dreaming of Wulfenii Euphorbia, though I have a feeling that is a dream.
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Must it be again?
Thanks for the purple Queen. Love it.
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You know there is some Setcresea in there????
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I was going to suggest Nicotiana too. I had to smile at the contents of your vase as I have just removed (and chucked out) the callicarpa that was in my shrub border – I found about a dozen berries on the trimmings but that was about all it has ever produced so having had several chances the decision was made! A fully-berried stem, on the other hand though, is definitely a Thing of Beauty!
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I am already looking for the Nicotiana, which is a great idea. I have never seen any down here, though annuals are not popular – the Asters have already come up! It is interesting to hear everyone’s experiences with the Beautyberry.
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Good luck with the asters – and the nicotiana if you track it down. I have seen callicarpa in the UK ‘pollarded’, but I don’t know if this is recommended. It is native in the US, isn’t it?
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Thank you, the earlier Aster sowing may do the trick. Pollarded Beautyberry sounds bad. Here they are grown like Forsythia – pruned to allow their natural arching form. I planted some recently in masses with masses of Oakleaf Hydrangeas under large deciduous trees.
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This makes them sound quite tolerant – but mine has gone now and I have no regrets!
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I have never seen such gorgeous beautyberries before! They are occasionally planted in ‘modern’ gardens here, but I have never seen any thriving like this! 🙂
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Thank you and neither have I, I think Florida is especially conducive to Beautyberries. This one is growing in straight sand and nearly full sun, further north it would not make it- weird. The one in part shade and irrigation doesn’t look nearly as good.
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I admire the Callicarpa whenever I see it but I’ve yet to discover it for sale here. I laughed at your frustration with the taxonomists – it has become almost impossible to keep up with the name changes. And why are the new names usually so difficult to spell, not to speak of pronounce?! I look forward to seeing your winter butterfly garden. As to lime colored plants, can you grow coleus (formerly Solenostemon, not Plectranthus) during your winter months? ‘Electric Lime’ is a nice sun-tolerant variety.
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Hmm, it may be one of those need humidity plants. I have some Coleus in shady containers, that sounds perfect. It is rare to find cultivars other than Wizard Mix around here – that is why I am starting seed.
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I’m so glad that you’ve a mermaid to watch over your newly-sowed seeds! Love the deep purple of your arrangement. Beautyberry is a favorite and you’ve found it some handsome companions.
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Thank you, the mermaid is doing her job,most of the seeds came up!.
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Hey! That’s the beautyberry! Did you feature these last week too? I have been seeing quite a few of these, including a white one. Was that yours? I have never seen those here before.
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I had some purple ones a couple of weeks ago. I have not tried the white ones. They are native to the Southeastern US. You will see them in the woods.
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Love the arrangement..such poise…would look right in a very posh restaurant.
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A plethora of purple indeed! A striking berry, whose beauty is even more dramatic her because you chose only a few stalks for your arrangement.
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