A easy recipe for making bug spray utilizing the leaves of the American BeautyBerry bush (Callicarpa Americana). A extremely efficient natural mix to be used as a mosquito and tick repellent.
I’ve tried a variety of selfmade natural bug sprays over time.
Residing in Florida, a unhazardous repellent for insect critters is essential, significantly if you’re an outdoorsy particular person.
My newest DIY bug spray success makes use of the leaves of the beautiful American beautyberry bush.
I realized about this recipe from the supervisor of Wonderfield Farm, the place Rogue Meals Florida shall be held from March 13-15, 2025. I shall be a speaker at this occasion and am excited to see a lot of you there quickly! For those who haven’t signed up but, use coupon HHE15 for a reduction on premium or day passes!
This native shrub discovered throughout the southeastern United States, is thought for its hanging clusters of shiny purple berries that pop in opposition to its inexperienced leaves, particularly in late summer season and fall.
The bush usually grows 3 to six ft tall, typically as much as 9 ft in the suitable circumstances. As soon as established, it’s drought-tolerant and hardy throughout temporary chilly snaps.
It thrives in a mixture of solar and shade—suppose woodlands, forest edges, or beneath a big tree in your yard for those who domesticate them your self.
My American beautyberry plant grows beneath the shade of a number of massive oaks. It will get morning and early afternoon solar, however largely shade which it loves.
I found these beautiful vegetation at an area native nursery. You’ll be able to most likely do the identical for those who dwell within the Southeast United States. In any other case, you’ll be able to usually discover seeds or younger beautyberry vegetation on-line to have shipped to your door.
Develop them in containers on an enclosed patio or porch for those who dwell in a chilly local weather the place they’ll’t survive open air year-round.
Making a bug spray from the deep inexperienced leaves works extraordinarily effectively for repelling all method of native biting bugs.
As a bonus, the purple berries are edible. They’re a bit bitter on their very own however make yummy selfmade jam.
I’m undecided but whether or not this selfmade natural spray works to repel deer flies, although it’s extremely efficient for mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and ticks. Proper now, I primarily use deer fly traps as safety.
I’ll discover out quickly, as deer fly season in Central Florida is correct across the nook beginning in Might.
American BeautyBerry Bug Spray
Easy recipe for making bug spray utilizing the leaves of the American BeautyBerry bush. Extremely efficient as a mosquito and tick repellent.
Directions
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Fill your meals processor about half full with beautyberry leaves. Add 1/4 cup of witch hazel and mix to a leafy paste.
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Add about the identical quantity of leaves and one other 1/4 cup of witch hazel to the meals processor and mix to a paste once more.
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Switch all leafy paste to a quart dimension mason jar. Will probably be about half full.
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High up the mason jar with extra witch hazel to the underside of the jar rim.
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Screw on the lid and depart on the counter at room temperature for 2 weeks. In a pinch, you may make a barely weaker batch after just a few days.
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Flip the jar a couple of instances every day because the beautyberry leaves are infusing into the witch hazel.
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Pressure out the leaf matter from the infused witch hazel utilizing a floursack material or tremendous weave cheesecloth.
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Pour the strained beautyberry-infused witch hazel into spray bottles. Your selfmade bug spray is now prepared to make use of!
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Retailer unused beautyberry bug spray bottles in a darkish cupboard. They are going to be good for as much as two years.
Right here’s an awesome video on making American BeautyBerry bug spray. I take advantage of a barely completely different methodology, however the visuals are very useful to get the thought of what the method entails.
