Stopping smell flowers

Birds and small mammals devour the berries. One appealing shrub with extensive experience in southeastern climate and soil is the native American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana.

For much of the year beautyberry blends in woodlands or mixed borders providing cover for wildlife. In spring small pink flowers form at leaf nodes and attract butterflies. But in autumn this quiet beauty enlivens to produce a spectacular display of fruit for which it was named. Bright lustrous magenta berries tightly packaged into beaded cluster- jewelry surround the stems.

The amethyst amulets decorate the fall and winter garden while providing an abundance of food for wildlife. Bobwhite quail and other game birds seek beautyberry for food and cover. Songbirds such as the American robin and northern cardinal delight in the berries. Squirrels, raccoons, opossums, foxes and rodents devour the fruit. Deer browse on the fuzzy leaves. Gardeners harvest bejeweled branches for dry arrangements. For those who prefer pearls to amethyst, the white- berried variety "Lactea" bears pearly clusters.

The deciduous shrub grows in full- sun to partial shade in USDA hardiness zones 6- 10. Beautyberry prefers well- drained soil but tolerates a pH range from 4.8 to 7. The candidate promises very little longterm maintenance if properly planted, a pest and disease free lifespan, and a mature growth height and spread of 4- 6 feet. In addition, its vigorous constitution withstands the stresses of drought and heat.

Since the native habitat of beautyberry is southern pine and oak- hickory forests, in the wild it is often found growing with other native constituents like the sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), fedderbush (Leucothee racemosa), southern bayberry (Morella caroliniensis), and hurrah- bush (Lyonia lucida). Native constituents form communities of plants which support local wildlife. Reinstating native communities of plants is the goal of many backyard naturalists and gardeners.

Although wildlife casts seeds throughout its southern range, the shrub self-sows as well. Gardeners propagate from seed and softwood cuttings in spring and summer.

As the shrub grows its canes tend to arch. Autumn is the ideal season to introduce beautyberry to the garden. Local garden centers such as Cooper's Nursery, Native Plants Garden Center, and Woodley's stock the shrub.

Mail order sources include www.tytyga.com, www.woodlanders.net, & www.ncihegardens.com.

Decorative branch with clusters of magenta beautyberries. Beautyberry prefers sun or partial shade. One beaded cluster of fruit in the fall.