Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry)

Grown for its clusters of spectacular berries that grace the plant throughout the fall and often in winter, Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry) is a bushy, deciduous shrub with a naturally loose and graceful arching habit.

Grown for its clusters of spectacular berries that grace the plant throughout the fall and often in winter, Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry) is a bushy, deciduous shrub with a naturally loose and graceful arching habit. Elegant with its long branches which seem to seek the ground, it bears clusters of small flowers of violet, pink, or white along its stems in early summer. Although charming, the flowers are fairly inconspicuous and not showy from a distance. Attractive to bees and butterflies, they are however abundantly followed by clusters of glossy, bright violet to magenta fruits, which encircle the woody stems. These incredibly showy berries may persist after the leaves have fallen and stand out beautifully, if not completely devoured by hungry birds. Adding rich color and splendor to the fall and winter landscape, they make a lovely contrast with the foliage of elliptical, coarse, fuzzy, light green leaves, that turns yellow in fall. Easy to grow, Callicarpa americana species is native to the southeastern United States.

  • Quickly grows with a loose, open habit, up to 3-6 ft. tall and wide (90-180 cm).
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Best flowering and fruit production occurs in full sun. May become leggy in too much shade. Drought tolerant.
  • While cold-hardy, this plant may die back to the ground in harsh winter areas with new growth emerging from the roots in spring
  • Easy to grow and low maintenance, this plant is generally pest and disease free.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant, or at the back of the border. Best fruit production occurs when these Beautyberry shrubs are planted in groups or massed (better cross-pollination).
  • Blooms on new growth. Prune stems back to 12 in. (30 cm) above the ground in late winter to early spring to encourage compactness and flowering
  • Propagate by seed in fall or spring or propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer with bottom heat

Requirements

Hardiness 6
– 11

Heat Zones 1
– 12

Climate Zones 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Callicarpa – Beautyberries
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall
Height 3'
– 6'
(90cm
– 180cm)
Spread 3'
– 6'
(90cm
– 180cm)
Spacing 36″
– 72″
(90cm
– 180cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Missouri, Northeast, Maryland, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage