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You are here: Home / Shrubs / American Beautyberry: Callicarpa americana

Updated on September 18, 2017

American Beautyberry: Callicarpa americana

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American Beautyberry
American Beautyberry

Found throughout the southeast, American beautyberry is a perennial native shrub that produces bright purple berries. The berries which appear in late summer and fall add a spot of bright color in shady areas.

The summer flowers are somewhat inconspicuous, but can add some lavender color to your garden. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.

Beautyberry grows rather quickly and generally grows well in part-shade but can also be planted in full sun.  Berry production may be higher in full sun. It can get as tall as 8-10 feet but generally is found around 4-5 feet tall, unless grown in optimal conditions. There is a white berry variety as well.

It can tolerate dry weather, but generally prefers moist but well-drained soil. However, it has low water requirements once established. Beautyberry is tolerant of hard pruning, if you wish to keep the shrub from getting too tall. Pruning should be done in the winter. This shrub is deciduous and will be bare in winter. However, the berries will persist after the leaves are gone, adding some late fall color to your garden.

5-foot Tall Shrub
5-foot Tall Shrub in Full Sun

Wildlife Uses

The berries are a an important fall food source for black bear, songbirds, opossum, foxes, raccoon, deer, squirrels, and even quail. Deer may eat the leaves if other preferred foods aren’t available.

The summer flowers attract bees and butterflies.

How to Propagate American Beautyberry

Beautyberry can be grown from seed, root cuttings, or from softwood cuttings. Seeds should be planted in the fall. If you plan to store them in order to plant later, you will need to clean all pulp from the seeds. Read the USDA fact sheet for instructions: http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_caam2.pdf

Read the USDA plant guide: http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_caam2.pdf

More details can be found at: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/shrubs/hgic1086.html

In My Garden

I planted American beautyberry around the base of a large oak in my garden. It has only been one year since I planted, but when the shrubs get larger, I think the bright purple berries will really add a good bit of color in this shady area.

Beautyberry in late summer
Beautyberry in late summer
Beautyberry flowers (Callicarpa americana)
Beautyberry flowers (Callicarpa americana)
Beautyberry Flowers
Beautyberry Flowers
American Beautyberry
American Beautyberry

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Article by Garden Experiments / Flowers & Plants, Shrubs, Wildlife / backyard habitat, berries, native plants, plant identification, shrubs

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Comments

  1. michael says

    October 23, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    Good picture, don’t you just love the bright purple berries! I live in upstate South Carolina mountains, they grow native here.

    I love to garden too and spend alot of time gardening when I am not woodworking. check out my post today with couple pictures of American Beautyberry – Beautiful Color

    Michael

    • Kathy says

      October 24, 2013 at 8:52 am

      Michael,
      Beautyberry is one of my favorite native shrubs – have you ever since the white-berried variety? I enjoyed the photos on your blog. Beautiful woodwork too.

      • michael says

        October 24, 2013 at 10:30 am

        Hi Kathy,..
        I have seen the white-berry variety but they are not native to our area. They are beautiful but not as brilliant as the purple berries!!

        Thank you for visiting my blog, hope you visit again soon! I like your site, great pictures!!

        Michael

  2. Keith says

    January 17, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    Michael

    Lovely pics.

    I am planning to experiment with Callicarpa Americana. I am in 7b/8b Charlotte NC. How long after planting do the blossoms appear. Do you think small 18 inch plants would grow/bloom this summer, or would they “wait” until summer 2015 ? 🙂

    Thanks !
    Keith

    • Garden Experiments says

      January 17, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      The ones that I planted this year produced some flowers and berries, but they definitely produce more the bigger the plant is and the longer it is in the ground. The plants I put in weren’t that much bigger than 18 inches either. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

      • Keith says

        March 4, 2014 at 9:08 am

        Hi there

        Grateful for your quick response. Alas, I did not reply with similar speed, so just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to comment. Have not yet purchased any beautyberry, but will plant at end-March here in NC.

        Thanks again
        Keith

        • Garden Experiments says

          March 4, 2014 at 4:21 pm

          Good luck!

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Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Mississippi Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With over 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

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