Callicarpa americana 'Alba'

[@MourningDove-bn4dk]

The foliage with those upright branches is very stunning.

[@taylorswf23]

We made jelly this year from the purple berries- the jelly was mild but tasty and turned a gorgeous magenta (not purple as the berries).

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I love this plant! I am going to plant this among winterberry Hollies against my white fence… like a natural Jackson Pollack! The bug repellent quality is worth having in my food forest.

[@aalejardin]

That sounds like a great combination -- I am planting a new bed in front of some mature Green Giant arbs and I may "steal" your idea.

[@frandavis8687]

Volunteers come up everywhere in my garden! I had a thicket of them under my crabapple tree that is within my garden space mulched. It was actually beautiful, but I will be more vigilant next spring about weeding them out.

[@jamesbarron1202]

When is the best time to collect seeds from the plant? I want to plant some on my farm for my beehives to feed from.

[@frandavis8687]

@@jamesbarron1202 My guess is right now after the first good frost. Jim said in the video that the birds eat them after the frost has softened them. The birds take them and deposit them all around my garden, so it must be pretty easy.

[@jamesbarron1202]

@@frandavis8687 I found what looked like a beautyberry planted in the parking lot at Walmart this summer (100+ temps and no rain for months) and there were clusters of dried up seeds and I took some and put them in my fridge in a baggy with damp seed starter to stratify them but I had them too wet and the seeds separated into halves. I have a plant app on my phone and took a picture of the bush it said American Beautyberry as I suspected it was. I’ll have to take a trip back and see if there’s any on it. It was pretty ragged looking this summer.

[@DaveSigurdsson]

Fall time before they dry

[@katiekane5247]

​@@jamesbarron1202I had some in 4" pots that took 2 years to germinate, glad I didn't pitch them after the first winter. Any stratification should work, going through a birds digestive system seems to work great.

[@aalejardin]

I have a purple flowered americana growing on a slope in dry shade. Frankly, I had sort of forgotten about it when, this fall, I looked up and said to myself, what is the plant with all the beautiful berries? I have a pink version in a border where it gets some water, but the purple one has been totally neglected including through weeks of drought and it is doing fine. I hope it reseeds or suckers in the area where it is planted. The berries make a great dry arrangement though I leave most of them for the birds. Great native plant!

[@warp9p659]

Just ordered one of those a few days ago after seeing yours all summer. Already have the one with purple berries. Wanted a white one too!

[@douellette7960]

I've found callicarpa berries to be pretty tasty and not astringent at all. Unusual flavor, sort of minty and slightly sweet. Not something you'd want to eat a bowl of however. Some people make jams or other things from them.

[@katiekane5247]

I tried them first time this year and offered a taste to the family. Bowl full, no but would look and taste great in a salad, mixed with other fruit or as a colorful garnish IMO

[@8helenjhouston8]

Ah, a bog plant - no wonder my plants under the oak trees with PM sun are not thriving. Definitely NOT a moist environment.