Purple Jam Up

Our neighborhood has always had many walkers, whether with or without dogs. It is one of the older neighborhoods and most everyone on our street has a keen interest in their gardens so there is always something interesting to look at. Since the year we moved in I have always kept the front gardens tidy and designed the landscape to be pleasant to the eye of the pedestrian. I like color especially dramatic colors or shape. This callicarpa or Purple Beauty Bush fit the bill. It is planted right at the sidewalk edge and is about five feet tall. This morning while we sipped our morning coffee there was literally a foot traffic jam up consisting of several dogs all wagging their tails as their owners oohed and ahed over the bright purple berries.

Spring time, this now vibrant plant looks like any other shrub leafed out with dark green leaves. Berries start forming but are green nondescript little bundles tucked into the leaves. When fall comes, the cold nights drop the leaves, leaving the purple berries. 

The berries stay put until food sources become scarce then within a half hour the birds will strip every berry from the once vibrant Purple Beauty Bush leaving it just another shrub in the landscape.