Have you ever sat through a movie that was ho-hum but temporarily captivated you with beautiful cinematography, brilliant acting from a secondary character or an unexpected plot twist? Otherwise the movie was nap-tastic. Well, if this movie could be a plant, it would be the Beauty Berry (Callicarpa bodiniera). For the majority of the year, this insignificant plant sidles beside other plants quietly taking up room and just listening. It may just be the kind of plant that one might not even know exists in their garden...until Winter arrives that is. As the weather cools down and plants start to lose their leaves, so does Beauty Berry. That's when this plant really shines. As the leaves drop, all that is left are unthinkably beautiful purple berries on the bare stems of this deciduous shrub. Basically this dowdy plants undresses to expose the most exquisitely constructed French lingerie.
You can spot two Beauty Berry shrubs at the #12 hole garden and another one at the entrance to of the Turf Care Centre. There is over 140 species of the genus Callicarpa from North America, Asia and Australia, but the most common ornamental species is bodiniera which originates from West-Central China. This medium sized shrub has a loose habit with fine leaves and small clusters of tiny flowers in white and pink. Beauty berry is from the Lamiaceae family (same family as many common herbs) and is used for jelly, wine and...insect repellent. Fortunately, the berries of this plant are one of the last food sources for birds over the Winter, that means plenty of time to enjoy them!
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