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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Wednesday - October 12, 2011

From: Gaffney, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Shrubs
Title: Are beautyberry bushes toxic to horses?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Are beautyberry bushes toxic to horses?

ANSWER:

I’m assuming that your are referring to the American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry). Some of the sources that I find regard the beautyberry as edible for humans, but not too palatable. However the berries can be used to make jam.

This is a link to a previously answered question regarding toxicity of American Beautyberry for dogs. It contains the links to poisonous plant databases that we use to when answering questions of this nature.

This link to ASPCA-horses is missing from that previous answer.

From the Image Gallery

American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana