Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Tuesday - December 11, 2012

From: Haddonfield, NJ
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Shrubs
Title: Beautyberries not poisonous to cats and dogs from Haddonfield NJ
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Are beauty berry plants poisonous to cats/dogs? Would like to use branches w/berries and leaves as indoor decorations.

ANSWER:

We get lots of questions about this gorgeous plant. Here is a previous Mr. Smarty Plants question concerning whether it is poisonous to people or animals. Follow this link, Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry), to our webpage on this plant where you will learn, among other things, that it does not grow naturally north of Maryland. If you have it thriving in your New Jersey garden, well done! Enjoy it at Christmas.

From the Image Gallery

American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana