If you planted beautyberries (Callicarpa sp.) in your landscape in the last year or two, you probably now feel like a smart gardener. Why? Because just as many summer flower shows start to fade, the berries of this deciduous bush are beginning to show their true bright colors, which helps to extend visual razzle-dazzle in your landscape well into the fall.
‘Welch’s Pink’ is an alt-purple beautyberry.
Snazzy purple has long been the typical tint of beautyberries — so much so that many gardeners have been lulled into thinking that it is the only color of this shrub’s fruit. However, there are alt-purple selections sporting new hues that make this easy-to-grow pretty even more versatile in a landscape setting.
For starters, ‘Welch’s Pink’ displays a calmer coloration of lavender-pink berries that visually soothes rather than sizzles. It typically restrains itself to about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. But, just like other beautyberries, ‘Welch’s Pink’ can also be kept in bounds with an annual pruning in late winter after its persistent berries have dried up — or been gobbled down by hungry birds.
Gardeners looking for berries with even less color but more twinkle will be pleased to know that, yes, there are whitefruited selections available. ‘Lactea’ is one of the best known (meaning easiest to find), and for good reason: it has long-lasting, pleasing bracelets of white berries that settle softly into a garden like autumn snowflakes. And ‘Lactea’ has friendly competition because the pale presentations of ‘Snow Star’ and ‘Albifructus’ have a similar look.
The white berries of ‘Duet’ put on a more modest show, only lightly dusting the limbs of this 4-foot-tall and wide shrub. But it takes two to make a duet harmonious, and in the case, the sprite-like berries are complemented nicely with variegated leaves that have margins generously splashed with shades of hazy cream, creating an eye-catcher in the garden from early spring until the fall fade.
The visual harmony of ‘Duet’
I have seen “Welch’s Pink’ for sale even at big box home and garden centers, while the ‘Lactea’ and ‘Duet’ that grace my fall landscape are Raleigh Farmers Market finds. However, check with your friendly local garden shops, and if they don’t have any of these selections on hand, ask if they can order them for you. If that doesn’t work, it is easy to e-shop online for these “alt-purple beautyberries.”
Bring bright white into your garden with ‘Lactea.’
For many adventurous gardeners, the beautyberry’s shiny fruits are Garden-of-Eden-like tempting — so, are they edible? Birds will eat them, but these long-lasting berries don’t seem to be one of their favorite fall and winter snacks. For gardeners, well, it depends on your definition of “edible.” Right off the branch, their taste ranges from bland to astringent, bordering on unpleasant. All is not lost for curious culinary creators because their flavor can be improved. An online search tagged “beautyberry jelly” will spill out bunches of recipes. And although not in the same abundance, instructions for making beautyberry wine can even be e-found.
To Do in the Garden
September
- This month can be a busy time in the ol’ veggie patch because turnips, radishes, spinach, parsnips, onions (bulbs), mustard greens, lettuce, collards, cauliflower, Swiss chard, carrots, broccoli, and cabbage can all be planted now.
- And if you enjoy fresh herbal helpers, there is still time to add arugula, cilantro, dill, and parsley to this year’s garden.
- Don’t encourage new growth on perennials and woody ornamentals because there probably won’t be enough time to harden off fresh shoots before the first frosts bite. In other words, save any high-nitrogen fertilizer flings for late next winter into the springtime.
- Many lawn and garden centers now want to move out garden equipment to make room for holiday merchandise, so watch for sales on trimmers, mowers, tillers, and other such outdoor handyman gear.
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