Callicarpa certainly lives up to it common name. Beauty berry bushes have small pink flowers in clusters along their long, arching branches during the summer. In fall and winter glossy purple berries replace the flowers. They provide food for many bird species including bobwhites, towhees and cardinals, but are often left until later in the winter when all other food sources are depleted.

These bushes are slow growing and will reach about five feet high and tall with a pleasant, rounded form. Callicarpa is native to the US, and is hardy from zones 8 to 5. They are tolerant of part shade and thrive in moist soil.

 

At Urban Roots we have a variety called ‘early amethyst’ which sets fruit in early September. Currently, there are both flower clusters and young, green berries on the bushes in the yard. We can’t wait to see the berries ripen to bright purple.

The fruits are edible, but should be eaten sparingly because they are very astringent. Crushing the leaves is folk remedy for deterring mosquitos. Farmers used to put cut branches with crushed leaves under horse harnesses to ward off flies and mosquitoes. In the early 2000’s researchers at the USDA isolated four chemicals that repel mosquitos.