Meet the American Beautyberry
American Beautyberry | Callicarpa americana
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a medium-large woody, deciduous shrub. I have long, arching branches.
My flowers are small and light pink, bunched around my stems where the leaf attaches.
I have bright, purple berries that develop in late summer to fall, that may last into winter. They are my most eye-catching feature, and also develop in tight clusters encircling my stems.
I have opposite leaves that are a wide, pointed oval shape. They have serrated margins and textured, sometimes hairy undersides.
My bark is bumpy and brown.
How big do I grow?: 3’ - 8’ height and 3’ - 6’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun to part shade.
Where I prefer to put my roots: I am happy in many soil types, as long as it’s well-drained.
Hardiness: Zone 6-10
Original home: I am native to the central and southeastern US and Cuba.
Colors: Light pink flowers and purple berries. There are cultivars with white or pink berries. My leaves turn a gold or yellow color in autumn.
When I bloom: Late spring to early summer.
Wildlife friends: Pollinators enjoy my blooms, and my berries are a food source for many types of songbirds, and some mammals.
Flora Fun Facts: When crushed, my leaves can repel mosquitos, ticks, and fire ants. This is due to the presence of two chemical compounds: callicarpenal and intermedeol.
More Info: The striking, almost iridescent purple fruit of the Beautyberry brings stunning color and texture to the fall garden. The “ombre” affect of the green-to-purple fruit - from the stem connection to the tip - is another fun visual quality of this beautiful native plant.
A member of the mint family (Lamiaceae).
This plant can be pruned in late winter, as much as to within 1’ - 2’ above the ground.
Native Americans used many parts of this plant to treat conditions like rheumatism and dysentery.
The best identification tricks for distinguishing the native Beautyberry from the Chinese one (Callicarpa dichotoma), include looking closely at the leaves and berries. Chinese Beautyberry has smaller, smoother, narrower leaves, and berries that hang from green stalks…instead of bunching closely around the stem.
This plant has an open, loose form, and looks best when planted in groups or as a backdrop behind smaller, denser shrubs. Recommended for a naturalized area, meadow planting, butterfly garden, or pollinator garden.
