Mexican Beautyberry Callicarpa acuminata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aegiphila minutiflora
- Callicarpa bonplandiana
- Callicarpa minutiflora
- Callicarpa mollis
- Callicarpa pringlei
- Callicarpa schlimii
- Callicarpa subintegerrima
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ee-KAR-puh ah-kew-min-AH-tah
- Description
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The Mexican beautyberry is a heat and humidity tolerant deciduous shrub and member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its native range is from Mexico to Bolivia and has been introduced in the United States. It is reportedly hardy in the piedmont region of North Carolina. The genus name is Greek for beautiful fruit. The species name is Latin and means pointed or sharp.
This shrub will grow 4-6 feet tall and wide and flowers best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. It can be pruned into a tree shape if desired. Grow in average well-drained garden soil and mulch for winter protection in the northern zone range. Prune in late winter to 1 foot high to promote additional summer growth as flowering and berry production is on new wood.
The Mexican beautyberry has white blooms with yellow stamens and blooms during the summer. The fruits are large clusters of dark glossy purplish-black berries from late summer to fall. The fruits may even last through the winter. Occasionally white berries have been observed. Its flowers and fruits form on the new wood of the shrub. The leaves are sage green, rough, serrated, hairy, wrinkled, and have pointed tips.
Use this shrub in the border or as a foundation plant in a pollinator or winter garden. The shrub's berries provide beautiful color in the fall and winter and are a good food source for birds. The showy fruits may also be used in floral arrangements.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- var. acuminata
Native from Mexico to Bolivia - var. argutidetata
Native to Tamaulipas and Honduras - var. pringlei
Native to easter Mexico, Tamaulipas to Chiapas - 'Woodlanders'
Raspberry red fruit
- var. acuminata
- var. acuminata, var. argutidetata, var. pringlei, 'Woodlanders'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. acuminata
Native from Mexico to Bolivia - var. argutidetata
Native to Tamaulipas and Honduras - var. pringlei
Native to easter Mexico, Tamaulipas to Chiapas - 'Woodlanders'
Raspberry red fruit
- var. acuminata
- var. acuminata, var. argutidetata, var. pringlei, 'Woodlanders'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Callicarpa
- Species:
- acuminata
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The crushed leaves of the Callicarpa produce a chemical, and the scent of this chemical repels mosquitos. The Department of Agriculture has formulated and patented the product as a mosquito repellant. Herbal doctors of Mexico have prescribed tea made from Callicarpa's crushed leaves for the treatment of vomiting and diarrhea.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to Mexico to Bolivia
- Distribution:
- Belize, Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, United States--FL, NC, NY, and Texas, Venezuela
- Wildlife Value:
- The berries attract bees, birds, and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are large clusters of dark shiny purplish-black berries that develop a whorl around the arching stems of the shrub. Each berry measures about 3/16 to 1/4 inch in diameter and resembles blackberries. Occasionally specimens have been found to have white berries. The fruits appear late summer into fall. They may last through winter and are food for birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers appear in the late spring to summer on the new wood of the shrub. The blooms are white with yellow stamens and develop on each leaf axil. The flower measures 1/8 to 1/4, and it appears in clusters measuring approximately 2 inches wide.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves appear on long arching branches. They are sage green in color, and the undersides of the leaf are a paler color. They measure up to 6 inches long and are up to 2 inches wide. The leaves are simple, opposite, rough, wrinkled, and ovate to elliptical in shape. The tips of the leaves are pointed, and the base is tapered. They have tiny star-shaped stellate hairs on the surface of the leaf. The margins are coarsely toothed or serrated.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems on young plants are slightly fuzzy and greenish-brown in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
