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 Lamiaceae or mint family. It is also known as Beautyberry or Black Beautyberry. 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, Callicarpa, is Greek and means beautiful fruit. The species, acuminata, is Latin and means pointed or sharp.
The Mexican Beautyberry has pinkish-lavender 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. The tight clump of berries forms a whorl around the stems. 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. The Mexican Beautyberry is similar to the American Beautyberry except it may be shorter.
The Mexican Beautyberry is typically disease and pest free. If pruning is needed, it is best done in late winter. It is recommended that old canes be removed for rejuvenation of the shrub. Keep in mind that flowers appear on new growth. The shrub is also drought tolerant once it is established.
The shrub's berries provide beautiful color in the fall and winter as well as being a good food source for birds. The showy fruits may also be used in floral arrangements. The leaves when crushed produce a chemical that can repel mosquitos.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Callicarpa acuminata var. acuminata
Native from Mexico to Bolivia - Callicarpa acuminata var. argutidetata
Native to Tamaulipas and Honduras - Callicarpa acuminata var. pringlei
Native to easter Mexico, Tamaulipas to Chiapas - 'Woodlanders'
Raspberry red fruit
- Callicarpa acuminata var. acuminata
- Callicarpa acuminata var. acuminata, Callicarpa acuminata var. argutidetata, Callicarpa acuminata var. pringlei, 'Woodlanders'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Callicarpa acuminata var. acuminata
Native from Mexico to Bolivia - Callicarpa acuminata var. argutidetata
Native to Tamaulipas and Honduras - Callicarpa acuminata var. pringlei
Native to easter Mexico, Tamaulipas to Chiapas - 'Woodlanders'
Raspberry red fruit
- Callicarpa acuminata var. acuminata
- Callicarpa acuminata var. acuminata, Callicarpa acuminata var. argutidetata, Callicarpa acuminata 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:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- 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. The cluster is a tight clump of berries. Each berry measures about 3/16 to 1/4 inch in diameter and resembles blackberries. The fruits are produced on new wood of the shrub. 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:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- 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 pinkish-lavender to pale lilac 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:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
