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| NATIVE SHRUB, FRENCH MULBERRY, IS CHERISHED BY BIRDS | |
| Published: October 14, 1997 | |
Colorful purple berries dont stay around longQ:I have been doing some research on the English name for the shrub that we call salsepareille in French. I have found that the common name in English is French Mulberry. Can you provide some information on the plant?A:French mulberry (Callicarpa americana), also known as American beautyberry or Spanish mulberry, is a popular native deciduous shrub that produces beautiful rose to metallic purple berries from August to November. The leaves drop well before frost, exposing the long stems with their tightly clustered fruit. The berries dont remain long because they are dearly loved by many birds, and their high water content makes them an important source of water for wildlife during dry autumns like this one.The plants tolerate slightly acid to alkaline soils which range from fertile to thin. They are best adapted to woodland edges in full sunlight to partial shade. The shrubs are relatively short-lived, but reseed freely and grow quickly. French mulberry plants are not usually available except from native plant nurseries; however, there is a white-fruited variety, Lactea, which is becoming popular for shade gardens and may become more widely available. Reader suggests potent tonic for bougainvilleaQ:Youve had a number of people requesting tips on getting bougainvillea to bloom. Im doing well with mine, so I will pass on what works for me. I place the plants in full sun. I feed them every two weeks during the growing season with a mixture of the following in 1 gallon of water: 2 tablespoons Superbloom, 2 tablespoons Miracle Gro and 2 tablespoons Epsom salt. I use Sevin dust when needed for bugs. Maybe some of your readers will find this helpful.A:It sounds like a potent mixture to me, but if it produces flowers like those in your photos, Im ready to try. Thank you, Bessie LeBlanc, for that good information.Repeating information on armadillosQ.Please! I have misplaced my paper with the column telling what to use to kill grubs. The armadillo visited last night and destroyed a great number of plants in several beds.A:In an "Ask Anne and Nan" column, Deanna Aucoin of Piere Part suggested applying Diazinon to the lawn to kill the grubs which are attracting the armadillos. Anne and Nan replied that there is an organic control for grubs called Beneficial Nematodes HB which can be sprayed on the lawn which is far safer than Diazinon. This product is available from Gardens Alive!, 5100 Schenley Place, Lawrenceburg, Ind. 47025, or call 812-537-8698. Good luck!What to do with dogwood berriesQ:My dogwood trees have many berries. Can I save these to plant?A:Pick the berries now and store them in the refrigerator over winter to satisfy the chilling requirement for germination. In spring, peel the pulp away from the seed. Then sow the seed about 1 inch deep in the ground or in a container filled with potting soil. Keep the soil moist. The seeds should germinate in spring.Q:The tag on my new rose bush uses the term "remontant." Can you tell me what it means?A:Barbara Walley, consulting rosarian, says that the term refers to the frequency of rebloom. If your rose is remontant, it will rebloom frequently. |