I often say if you can’t root or grow American beautyberry, it’s time to change your hobby. This strong native does well across the Gulf South and it’s finding renewed use with the crowd of pollinator and wildlife friendly consumers that make up today’s market. While typically varying shades of purple berries are common, white and pink berried forms are becoming more available.

The story of the first pink goes all the way back to 2001 and a young man working for the gardens, Matt Welch. Matt was one of those plant obsessed students and after graduating he did time as a Technician here at SFA Gardens. Matt was making a trip to one of our reintroduction plots in the Davy Crockett National Forest near Alto. We had reintroduced Hibiscus dasycalyx, the Neches river rose mallow, into what we thought was an appropriate wetland location and Matt was there to take some data (growth/survival). On the way out of the forest, he happened into the very first beautyberry ever seen with pink fruit. Having been trained well, he snagged some cuttings and made his way back to the truck. On the way home he stopped at an Alto cafe to grab some lunch. The TV was on and it was showing the twin towers falling on the breaking news. It was 9/11. How’s that for an auspicious start for a plant introduction? Since then, the plant has had legs of its own across the south under varying names. The JCR Arboretum awarded it a choice selection and promoted it state wide.

Lowrey’s Ghost is a variety that came from Anderson’s Nursery in Houston, a selection with just a touch of pink. I’m not totally sure of the history but . . . we like it. More white in full sun, pink hues in the shade.

While all the beautyberries seem to have a problem with the new and emerging pest, crape myrtle bark scale, the plant seems quite resilient for the long haul. If you see the pest, you can always cut the plant to the ground and start over.