Sunday 13 October 2013

Callicarpa

It's the time of year when my Callicarpa bush has its annual moment of glory:


Very soon the leaves will fall off, making the purple berries show up even more, but I like this bush best just as the leaves turn colour. This is a plant noted for its berries, not its foliage. It's never going to be able to compete with the Acers! However, for a few days every year, just before they fall, the leaves are tinged with reddish-brown. I think it contrasts very attractively with the purple berries.


This year the number of berries is good. They have formed in huge clusters like this:-


The Blackbirds will eat these berries in a month or so, when all the Summer goodies have gone. Callicarpa berries are evidently not a great delicacy, and only seem to get eaten as a last resort. Meanwhile I shall enjoy their beauty myself! A colloquial name for Callicarpa is "Beauty Bush". You can see why.

12 comments:

  1. how stunning!... they look deadly though!

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  2. It's good that the blackbirds allow you some time to enjoy the berries.

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  3. The purple berries are quite gorgeous looking. I'm surprised your not trying out some sort of jam?

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    1. Oh dear! Have I got that sort of reputation already? I don't know, but I suspect that Callicarpa berries are either poisonous to humans or unpleasant!

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  4. Other than grapes don't know that I've seen berries that color before. I see why you like it.

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  5. The berries are such a lovely colour, though I suppose they're not as eye grabbing as bright red ones to the birds. It affords you the time to enjoy them before they're discovered.

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  6. Magnificent!
    Hope you are having a beautiful day!
    Lea

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  7. Fabulous specimen and the colour of the berries looks fantastic.

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  8. The berries are a lovely looking colour.

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  9. I never seen this plant before. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. I've seen these bushes and berries in a couple of gardens recently and was wandering what they were. So thanks for identifying them for me!

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