American Beautyberry is, as the name implies, a plant that is gorgeous when the berries are ripe. But this plant is more than just a pretty face! I’ve made a large batch of insect repellent with leaves I harvested when we trimmed some plants at East Lake County Chamber of Commerce, and I’m happy to report that it is effective against mosquitoes. It is also supposed to repel yellowflies and chiggers.
The recipe is very easy and doesn’t even require measurements. Just loosely stuff a jar with leaves. Next, I filled the jar with cheap vodka (you can use rubbing alcohol, but in pandemic conditions vodka is easier to find). I let it sit for a few days, shaking it up whenever I walked past.
Finally I funneled the infused liquid into small spray bottles with caps (I used a quart jar and had PLENTY of liquid). That’s it! You can add a couple of drops of essential oil if you like, but the slightly funky smell of the infusion fades quickly and I don’t find it bothersome.
Because I enjoy canning, I’ll probably make beautyberry jelly in the near future. When I do, I’ll share that recipe, too!