Did you know?

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The American beautyberry is a woody, deciduous, perennial shrub that produces showy purple fruits in the fall. It is native to the central and southeastern United States. Uses: - crushed leaves can repel mosquitos, ticks, and fire ants. - berries are edible (best suited for jelly). - food source for songbirds and small mammals. - butterfly or pollinator gardens. - floral arrangements. - Native Americans used root and leaf tea in sweat baths for rheumatism, fevers, and malaria. - Root tea used for dysentery, stomach aches. - Root and berry tea used for colic. SOURCES: N.S.C.U. extension office and Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.