native beauty berry

[timmie]

i was always told this plant was beautiful and poison. my parents told mr the purple berries are poison. is this not true or is it a different variety?

 

[phideaux]

i was always told this plant was beautiful and poison. my parents told mr the purple berries are poison. is this not true or is it a different variety?

Timmie, not sure what plant your referring to.

I have been told that Poke berries are poison, buy I don't think they are pretty.

Jim

 

[Sentry18]

Found this article. Might help.

https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/callicarpa-beautyberry/


This pic is of the American Beauty Berry. I couldn't find any mention of them being poisonous.

 

[phideaux]

I never heard of that..must less seen one.

Not in West KY.

Timmie, if you get sick ..would you let us know...

Jim

 

[Sentry18]

I never heard of that..must less seen one.

Not in West KY.

Timmie, if you get sick ..would you let us know...

Jim

I have never seen them either.

 

[timmie]

i don't think i'm gonna make jelly out of them.

 

[Peanut]

@timmie
Ah! Callicarpa americana… Beauty Berry. It’s a native plant. Most of the plant is mildly toxic. It might give you indigestion or the runs...

It’s one of my go to plants when I want to make insect repellent. I make it from the leaves. It makes a very good bug repellent.

That said the berries are edible… I’ve seen jelly made from the berries for sale at the farmers market… The color is just to weird for me to eat it…

https://www.authenticflorida.com/ar...-to-make-authentic-florida-beautyberry-jelly/

https://tableandhearth.com/beautyberry-jelly-water-canning-basics/

https://hearthandvine.com/beautyberry-jelly/

I’ve also seen Kudzu bloom jelly for sale at the farmers market… It smells to much like the grape bubble gum I used to buy when I played little league baseball. I haven’t eaten kudzu jelly either.

 

[phideaux]

I refuse to ingest insect repellent.

Blaaaah.


Jim

 

[timmie]

i tried kudzu jelly a long time ago. it left an after taste and i didn't like it.