table of contents
- Nice but inedible
- Serious poisoning unlikely
- Toxins and Symptoms
- frequently asked Questions
The big hour strikes in autumn, when the exotic beautiful fruit presents its shiny purple, berry-like fruits. Nevertheless, caution is advised because the Love pearl bush is not as harmless as it seems.
In a nutshell
- Deciduous shrub with showy fruits and beautiful autumn leaves
- Berries look like small, colorful balls of sugar
- Especially tempts children to try it
- Berries are considered to be slightly poisonous
- There are poisonous and non-poisonous varieties of the love pearl bush
Nice but inedible
With its colorful fruits, the beautiful fruit (Callicarpa bodinieri) lives up to its name. You can marvel at them, but you shouldn't eat them. They are suitable for people, especially small children, as well as animals or Pets such as dogs, cats and rodents are poisonous. Children and cats in particular are magically attracted by these bright fruits. While birds in nature eat these berries without presumably harming them, care should be taken with ornamental birds that are kept indoors.
Serious poisoning unlikely
Poisoning by the love pearl bush with a fatal outcome is rather unlikely. If you actually put the berries in your mouth, you will quickly notice that they are bitter and taste very unpleasant. They are usually spat out quickly. In order to rule out any danger, anyone who has small children or pets who could come into contact with the fruit should refrain from planting a beautiful fruit. This also applies to individual branches that you want to use as decoration for the vase.
Tip: Even if the fruits of the beautiful fruit are poisonous, the leaves can protect against mosquitoes and ticks if you rub them on the skin.
Toxins and Symptoms
The love pearl bush contains Callicarpenal, Intermedeol and Spathulenol, all three substances are slightly toxic. The level of toxins varies depending on which variety it is. When consumed, these toxins can cause mild to severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. In addition to the poisonous ones, there are also said to be non-poisonous varieties such as the American beautiful fruit 'Callicarpa americana'. Their juicy, sweet and fleshy fruits are even said to be edible.
frequently asked Questions
In the event of possible symptoms of intoxication, it is definitely advisable to consult a doctor or See a vet and / or call the Poison Control Center for information. There you can get expert and medical advice and act accordingly if necessary.
The poisonous effect of the fruits only unfolds when consumed. In case of skin contact there is no risk of poisoning, on the contrary, when applied externally, the love pearl bush can even keep vermin away.
The rather inconspicuous pale pink to lilac colored flowers appear from July to August. The fruits appear after flowering in autumn and usually stay on the bush until Christmas.