Abstract
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a common native shrub species in Florida and much of the southeastern United States. However, it is not readily available in the landscape and nursery industries even though it is a well-known food source for numerous bird species, small mammals, and white-tailed deer. As part of a larger study to examine growth and phenology differences among plants in northern and southern Florida, we propagated plants for a common garden experiment. If there are regional differences in growth and survivorship, propagating and using local plants by the landscaping and nursery industries becomes imperative for the conservation of local genotypes, phenotypes and ecotypes. American beautyberry is difficult to propagate, and survival rate by cuttings is typically low. Therefore, this study reports on the success rate of different treatments to improve the propagation of local genetic material. We propagated about 300 cuttings over a 3-year period. Multiple (3–12) cuttings were taken from individual native plants. All cuttings were 6 inches long and treated with a rooting hormone powder (indole-3-butyric acid). Cuttings differed in distance from the base of the stem of the parent plant (first 6 inches at tip, 6–12 inches, or 12–18 inches toward root), degree of bark development as estimated by color of stem, and vertical or horizontal placement in the soil. Success rate was determined by length of survival as measured by continued annual growth of buds and leaves. Green new-growth stems had the lowest survival rates and cuttings lower on the stem had higher survival rates. This pattern may suggest, at least in part, that vegetative propagation success may be dependent on bark thickness or development. Cuttings placed horizontally had a higher initial survival rate, but this disappeared over time. Survivorship also correlated with parent plant identification; some plants were better propagators than others. A natural occurring case of vegetative layering was identified in the field where a branch was found partially buried and grew roots into the ground, initiating a new upward stem. Three attempts were made to artificially repeat the natural occurrence by burying a 6-inch portion of live branches, but none grew roots over a 2-year period.
