Pictures of native Florida tall grass and flowers.
While camping at Rodman Campground in Palatka, Florida, we drove to the local dam. A central garden, or natural area, by the boat ramp, contained some beautiful native flowers and tall grass.
Loads of bees were all over the flowers. Not sure exactly what the grass is, or an exact name for the flowers, but the area was beautiful.
The American Beautyberry bush is an unusual and large blooming perennial here in central Florida. I’m trying to propagate from seeds that come from the shrub in my yard.
I’m beginning this post well before it will actually be completed. My goal is to start Beautyberry plants from seeds.
The Beautyberry bush, or American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a unique plant and I have two growing at the edge of my small Florida yard. I thought they were some sort of big weed until I saw the berries.
I have learned that it is a Florida native plant. It is easy to grow and needs no care. I have certainly done nothing to help these plants thrive. Both plants are growing among natural growth at the edge of the yard.
On the lot next door, there is also a Beautyberry and an Elm tree side by side. However, both are covered in vines . The only reason I realized there is a beauty berry in that clump is that I went in to remove the vines (failed) and found new growth at the base of the bush.
This is not on my land, but I’d love to uncover them so they can grow correctly. In winter when the vines die, I will try again, unless the land is cleared by the owner before then.
The leaves are a bit fuzzy and I’ve read that they can be used to keep mosquitos away by rubbing them on the skin. I’ve tried this and it seems to work!
The little pink flowers begin to show up along the stems in May. By June, the flowers have become green berries. In July the berries begin to turn purple from the back of the stem toward the front.
Birds love to eat the seeds and have therefore have helped this plant to spread. Because I have found another nice shrub (the Firespike) back behind this Beauty Berry, I suspect that this area of the yard was once a garden. It is overgrown with vines and weeds that are impossible to keep clear, but these nice, flowering shrubs have survived.
Now, I know that this plant is hard to find, so I cherish the plants I already have. But, what if I could start new Beautyberries from the seeds?
Collect the purple berries and find the seeds inside. Seeds form around the end of summer.
Let the seeds dry and then plant them in early spring.
End of August collection of berries from the Beauty Berry Bush.
This propagating from seed was a big FAIL for me. Nothing grew. I’ll just enjoy the plants that are already growing.
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Hydrangeas Blue 