Rubus odoratus (Flowering Raspberry) is a strong-growing, deciduous shrub forming a thicket of erect stems clothed with palmate, 5-lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves, 4-10 in. wide (10-25 cm), becoming pale yellow in the fall. The stems are thornless, unlike many other rubus species. From early to late summer, a ravishing display of large, fragrant, rich pink-purple flowers, 2 in. across (5 cm), can be enjoyed. Resembling single roses, they are borne singly or in few-flowered clusters above the handsome foliage. They are followed by small, fuzzy, purplish-red raspberries, which are edible, but tend to be insipid. However, they are valuable seasonal food for songbirds, game birds, or large and small mammals. Relatively immune to pests and diseases, Flowering Raspberry spreads rapidly from creeping, underground stems and can form large colonies. A good plant for natural area or wildflower garden.

Viburnum dentatum Autumn Jazz® is a broadleaf deciduous shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer white flowers emerge followed by black and blue fruit. Attracts bees, birds, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - occasional water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, alkaline, average and well-drained soil. CHARACTERISTICS OF Viburnum dentatum Autumn Jazz® Plant type: shrub Plant family: adoxaceae, caprifoliaceae Foliage: deciduous green Mature size: 8 FT - 12 FT - wide, 6 FT - 10 FT - tall Flowers: white blooms in spring and summer Uses: disease-resistant, fall color, pest resistant, vase-shaped GROWING CONDITIONS for Viburnum dentatum Autumn Jazz® USDA Zones: 3a - 8b Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade Watering frequency: even moisture - occasional Resistant to: deer Soil needs: acidic, alkaline, average and well-drained

Scientific name: Callicarpa americana, Callicarpa japonica Abundance: Plentiful What: ripe berries How: raw, preserves Where: woods When: late summer, fall Nutritional Value: minor amounts of vitamins and carbohydrates Other uses: Recent studies indicate beauty berry leaves contain several very strong mosquito repellent molecules. Toxicity of these molecules still needs to be determined. Dangers: Some people have reported stomach upset after eating beauty berries. Limit yourself to small servings until you know how your body will react. Medicinal Summary: Root Bark - diuretic; treats dysentery and stomach aches (tisane) Leaves & Root - sweatbath soothes rheumatism Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged in an opposite-alternating pattern along the stems. Leaf Shape: The leaves are typically ovate to elliptic, with a length ranging from 2 to 6 inches and a width of 1.5 to 3 inches. Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate. Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is serrated or toothed. Leaf Color: The leaves are green. Flower Structure: The flowers are small, with a diameter of approximately 1/8 inch, and are clustered around leaf/stem junctions. Flower Color: Callicarpa americana flowers can be pink to purple. Fruit: The fruit is a drupe, usually glossy and violet to purple, about 1/8 inch in diameter. Seed: Seeds are small and enclosed within the drupe. Bark: The bark is usually smooth and brown. Hairs: Leaves and stems have fine hairs. Height: Callicarpa americana typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet. American Beautyberry with ripe berries. Closeup of the berries. They are almost ripe, just need to darken to a deep purple color. Closeup of a beautyberry leaf. Immature berry clusters. Japanese beautyberry stay white rather than turn purple. They are edible. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping. North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. As late summer turns to fall the bright magenta berries of American beautyberry capture the eye. These shrubs average 3’ to 5’ tall and wide but exceptional ones can grow over 8’ tall. They are understory plants found in most wooded areas, especially if moist soil. American beautyberry shrubs lose their leaves in the winter but the clusters of dried berries often remain on its long, drooping branches. Leaves appear in late spring, often after many other plants. The clusters of purple/pink flowers appear in early summer and quickly become small, white-pink berries. American beautyberry berries become edible upon reaching full ripeness which usually occurs in late summer to early fall. They should be a dark purple/magenta color but not turning wrinkled and dry. These berries can be eaten raw and have a mild, slight medicinal flavor. To truly maximize the potential of these berries it is best to make jelly out of them. Combine 1.5 qts of berries with 1 qt. water, boil for 20 minutes and then strain out the solids. Add 4.5 cups of sugar and one envelope of Sure Jell to the liquid. Bring the liquid back up to boil for two minutes, skimming off any foam. Pour the hot jelly into sterilized jars and seal. If it doesn't set up you'll need to add another 1/4 envelope of Sure Jell or just use it as a fantastic syrup! The resulting jelly has a unique flavor which reminds me of rose petals and champagne. These berries can also be used to make wine. Being low in sugars it is best to combine American beautyberry fruit with something sweeter such as grapes or bananas, otherwise the resulting wine will be a bit weak and have an uncomplex flavor. Some people have reported stomach upset after eating beauty berries. Limit yourself to small servings until you know how your body will react Three different molecules having mosquito repellent properties have been found in the leaves. Testing by the US army shows these compounds are similar to DEET in their ability to repel mosquitoes but human toxicity has not been determined. I recommend rubbing crushed leaves on your clothing rather than directly onto bare skin. Also note, while effective against mosquitoes these three chemicals don't seem to repel wood ticks or chiggers. Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

The sheer diversity, beauty, and all-season appeal of witch hazels have put them near the top of the list of valuable garden shrubs. Although witch hazel cultivars, especially those derived from the two American species, are more common on the East Coast, they have become increasingly popular among West Coast landscape professionals.

Find Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) in Fayetteville Springdale Rogers Bentonville AR Arkansas AR at Westwood Gardens