American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Also listed as Callicarpa serrata, Callicarpa viburnifolia
Also known as French-mulberry, Beauty-berry
Climate Match for your location
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A native deciduous shrub prized for its small pink or white summer flowers followed by striking bright purple berries in fall and early winter. It provides excellent ornamental interest and wildlife food value.
Why grow it
American beautyberry distinguishes itself from other native ornamental shrubs through its extended visual display, with berries persisting well into winter after leaf drop. It tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than many berry-producing natives, including poor, compacted, or sandy soils. The prolific fruit set reliably attracts migratory birds and other wildlife without requiring a pollinator partner, making it useful in mixed plantings where cross-pollination might be uncertain.
Watch out for
Plants tend toward leggy, open growth if not pruned; rejuvenation pruning in late winter encourages denser branching. Berry production is most abundant in full sun to part shade locations; insufficient light results in sparse fruiting. Established plants may self-seed readily in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent berry clusters before natural drop can prevent unwanted volunteer seedlings nearby.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native deciduous shrub prized for its small pink or white summer flowers followed by striking bright purple berries in fall and early winter. It provides excellent ornamental interest and wildlife food value.
Climate Match for your location
See how well American Beautyberry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
American beautyberry distinguishes itself from other native ornamental shrubs through its extended visual display, with berries persisting well into winter after leaf drop. It tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than many berry-producing natives, including poor, compacted, or sandy soils. The prolific fruit set reliably attracts migratory birds and other wildlife without requiring a pollinator partner, making it useful in mixed plantings where cross-pollination might be uncertain.
Watch out for
Plants tend toward leggy, open growth if not pruned; rejuvenation pruning in late winter encourages denser branching. Berry production is most abundant in full sun to part shade locations; insufficient light results in sparse fruiting. Established plants may self-seed readily in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent berry clusters before natural drop can prevent unwanted volunteer seedlings nearby.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
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