CALLICARPA AMERICANA (The following taken from the WIKIPEDIA) The raw berries, while palatably sweet, are suitable for human consumption only in small amounts, because they are astringent; they are also used in jellies. The roots are used to make herbal tea. As a folk remedy it has been claimed that “fresh, crushed leaves of American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana . . . helped keep biting insects away from animals such as horses and mules.”[2] An isolated plant compound, callicarpenal, has reportedly been proven effective in tests as a mosquito repellent.[3] The berries ripen in September through October and are a favorite among wild bird species including cardinals, mockingbirds, finches, woodpeckers and more. Beautyberry is commonly planted in landscape designs to attract wildlife because of the food source the berries provide and the cover animals get from the shrub itself.
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I took a picture of this plant and wondered what it was. It was as growing in the Blue Ridge mountains. Very lovely.
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Growing wild here everywhere. I agree, they are lovely.
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