Rewilding My Lot

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) was one of the first plants that I introduced here, in spring 2023. What I didn’t know then was how harsh last summer’s drought/heat would be, nor that there would be a major freeze the following winter.

So considering how much recovery this plant has had to do, it is doing very well. It has grown from this in January 2024:

To this in August 2024:

American Beautyberry is renowned for its striking purple berries that birds like (see first photo in this post). Those berries start as tiny inconspicuous flowers, often visited by bees. This photo was taken in May 2024:

My American Beautyberry doesn’t have as many berries this year as I see on older plants nearby, but it is not at all surprising that shrubs and trees here will take at least a couple of years to establish. I am pleased with how strong it looks now. Here are a couple more photos, including some berries that are still green.