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Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri) is a deciduous shrub which is hardy in USDA zones 6-8. Beautyberry grows to a height of 6-8 feet with a 4-6 foot spread.
The foliage is a beautiful bronze color as it emerges in spring, but soon turns to a bright green. Small lavender flowers will appear on new growth by mid-summer which produce clusters of berries which ripen to intensely purple color by early fall. The berries will remain on the plant after the foliage drops providing a beautifully contrasting effect in the garden during the winter months.
Callicarpa bodinieri should be planted in full sun for maximum fruit production. Water regularly and feed lightly with a balanced, liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing season. Beautyberry should be pruned in early Spring if it becomes leggy or mis-shapen.
Beautyberry(Callicarpa bodinieri)
These are Cedar Hill flowers!
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From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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I thought that I had read that they weren't poisonous so I did some checking and according to the US Army's "Guide to Toxic plants", Beauty Berries aren't toxic. I tested a couple... they taste really, really yucky! The birds (Cedar Waxwings) like them though.
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From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
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They are NOT poisonous... I've been eating them in sweet potato pancakes for breakfast since I was a young boy when my dad would take me hunting, fishing, or just out camping here in Florida. They grow in every county in the state. Most folks gripe about the hardness of their seeds when raw but the seeds soften during cooking in the pancake. TRY IT!
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