Weeds That Grow Small Purple Berries

Weeds are unwanted plants that grow with invasive tendencies, often crowding out other plants. Many gardeners plant certain weeds because they produce showy ornamental flowers or pleasing foliage. Planting these competitive species in containers helps to control the invasive habit of the weed. Some types of weeds develop small purplish berries that attract birds and other wildlife. These aggressive plants come in a variety of perennial and annual plants.

Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) is a semi-woody, fast-growing vine with an erect spreading formation. This member of the vitaceae family develops small color-changing clusters of green to lavender to light blue fruit. This self-sowing plant has a competitive nature. Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) is a rapidly spreading invasive perennial evergreen vine that spreads through rhizomes. This aggressive European native produces edible 1-inch-long purplish-black berries. During late spring to early summer, large white to light pink flowers develop. Himalayan blackberry has red thorns with a recurving formation that grow along the plant’s stems.

Eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptychanthum) is an herbaceous annual forb with intrusive tendencies. A shade-tolerant plant, Eastern black nightshade thrives in various landscapes and near many crops like soybeans, grains and tomatoes. This member of the Solanaceae plant family grows purplish berries that stain grain crops. Mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) is an herbaceous annual vine with barbed stems and leaves. This invasive species has a fast growth pattern and a trailing formation. The iridescent purplish-blue fruit forms in clusters on terminal stems. Mile-a-minute weed originates in eastern regions of Asia.

Japanese rose (Rosa multiflora) is an aggressive deciduous shrub indigenous to Japan and Korea. This Rosaceae family plant has compound leaves that form in an alternate configuration. The white to pink flowers are 1-inch in diameter and blossom during June. Reddish-purple fruit or rose hips develop in late summer. Muscadine grape (Vistis rotundifolia) is a climbing intrusive deciduous vine that grows to lengths of 60 to 100 feet. Deep green lustrous leaves are 2 ? to 5 inches in length with toothed edges. Muscadine grape blooms with small greenish-yellow flowers and produces purplish-black berries.

Common pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) is a bushy herbaceous poisonous perennial weed native to eastern regions of the United States. This large plant develops a taproot and long dark red to purple stems that grow up to 10 feet in length. In the fall, dark purple berries form in grape-like arrangements. Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is a 1- to 5-foot-tall perennial forb with spreading rhizomes that form colonies. This invasive plant belongs to the Liliaceae plant family. Solomon’s seal produces deep blue to purple fruit that birds and animals eat. The tubular white flowers form in spring along arching stems.