Shrubs - American Beautyberry (French Mulberry, Callicarpa Americana)
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  (July) I have lots of Beauty Bush growing all over - how do you get rid of it?

  Actually, I quite like beauty bush, Callicarpa americana. This lovely native is blooming now or just finished, and will set clusters of purple berries for a fall display. If the plant has started spreading, you might share with friends and neighbors, or as a last resort, cut it back and spray with Round-up. I would try to find a use for it, as it is a showstopper in the fall. Janet

  (August) Where can I buy 'beauty bush'? I never heard of it until I read your column this week.

  Many local nurseries are now carrying beautybush -- Callicarpa is the genus. Call some of your local nurseries and see if they have them. If not, there are numerous mail order nurseries that do sell them. Pine Ridge Gardens in London, Arkansas does mail order and is open by appointment only.

  (September) My husband and I visited Garvan Gardens yesterday and saw a beautiful little group of flowers near the Pavilion. They were similar to a crocus but had a taller cream colored stem and white to blue/lavender bloom that was also larger than a crocus bloom. There were no leaves and were growing in a little clump in the shade. We would appreciate it if you could identify the name and if they are shade only bulbs. We were also taken with a bush which was identified as "American Beauty Berry" and also seemed to love the filtered shade. They had beautiful crimson clumps of berries. Are these available in the nurseries?

  My guess is the bulb plant is a fall crocus or Colchicum. These plants produce foliage in the spring, which dies back in late spring to early summer, and then they bloom without foliage in the fall. The American beautyberry is Callicarpa americana. It is also commonly called French Mulberry. It should be available at nurseries statewide. Both plants should do well in a woodland garden. Garvan Gardens is sponsoring a plant sale this fall, promoting some of the plants in the garden. The event will be Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19. The show will be open noon‑6 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the gardens is the only cost to attend the plant sale. For more information call Garvan Gardens at 800‑366‑4664.

  (October) Your article in the Arkansas Democrat of October 2, 2004 had a great picture of the American Beauty Berry and you have mentioned this native, wild plant in previous articles. Would you please tell me how I can get a start of this plant? Can it be started from the seeds of the fruit cluster? If yes, how? I have tried this to no avail. Will a cutting from the plant root? I haven't tried this as the only place I have ever seen the plant is a Garvan Gardens and taking a cutting is not permitted. Can this plant be obtained from a nursery in Central Arkansas? 

  Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, should be available from many nurseries statewide. It is an easy plant to propagate, both from cuttings, division and seeds. Seeds should be cleaned of pulp, then given a cool, moist storage period. The can be done naturally with fall planting outdoors, or you can store them in a plastic bag in moist potting soil in your refrigerator for three months then plant. Beautyberry is native statewide, and you should find them growing in the woods. Don't dig native plants, but harvesting a few berries won't hurt. But visit your local nurseries and see if they can get you one, if they don't have them.

  (November) We have a French Mulberry Bush (American Beauty Berry) growing outside our bedroom window (south exposure). We would to establish additional bushes in our yard. Can the berries be harvested and planted to propagate this plant or is this one of those plants where the berries must go through the digestive system of a bird? If the berries can be harvested, when would we do this? How would we care for the berries prior to planting - i.e. do they have to be harvested in the fall, refrigerated during winter, and planted in spring? When is the best time to try to establish new plants? 

  The seeds will germinate following a cool, moist stratification period, but division or rooting cuttings is so much easier and faster. Usually, if you have a Callicarpa (French Mulberry), you will have multiple sprouts at the base. Simply divide them after their show fades this fall, and move them to the new locations. They multiply and grow quickly.

  Can you tell me the name of the shrub that has the bright purple berries growing all around the stems now? It is about four to five feet tall and has inconspicuous flowers in the spring, but the berries are outstanding. Can it be grown from seed? I would like to propagate more for my yard. 

  The plant in question is commonly called beautyberry or French mulberry, Callicarpa americana. It is a wonderful native plant. You can find them with the purple berries or white. Some nurseries carry them, especially those that specialize in native plants. They would do nicely in a home landscape. They can be grown from seed. The seeds require a cool, moist stratifcation period in the refrigerator or outside naturally in the ground, before they will germinate.

  On a recent trip in Southern Missouri, I admired some shrubs that I would like to get started in my yard. I am enclosing some of the purple berries and a sample of the foliage in the hope that you can identify the plant for me. Can it be propagated from these berries, and will it grow in Arkansas? 

  The plant is Callicarpa americana, commonly called French Mulberry or Beautyberry. This is a common native plant found throughout Arkansas. Many nurseries now sell the plants, and there is even a white fruited variety. They are great woodland plants and do grow easily from seed. Harvest some seeds, remove the pulp and either save the seeds for spring planting, or sow them indoors, midwinter.

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