Callicarpa americana
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ih-KAR-pah a-mer-ih-KAY-nah
- Description
-
American Beautyberry or French Mulberry
This drought-tolerant native deciduous shrub in the Lamiaceae family may reach heights of 8 feet but typically grows to 4 feet. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate some shade, though there will be a reduction in flower and fruit production. It tolerates wet planting sites but prefers well-drained soil.
The real beauty of this plant is the unusual ¼ inch purple fruit that surrounds the stem in the fall. The fruit ripens for an extended period of time so as the birds eat some of the fruit there is still more ripening to keep the color. Cut back severely in late fall to produce the most berries next year. Flowers and berries appear on new shoots.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
- Cultivars:
-
- C. americana var. lactea
- C. americana var. lectea
- C. americana var. lactea
- Tags:
- Cultivars:
-
- C. americana var. lactea
- C. americana var. lectea
- C. americana var. lactea
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Callicarpa
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its fruits are eaten by catbirds and other songbirds, small mammals, white-tailed deer, and black bear. It is a very important fall food for migrant songbirds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is low maintenance and does not suffer from insect or disease problems. Resistant to fire in landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Open
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of glossy pink-purple to red-violet berries in fall
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers appear on new growth where the leaves meet the stem, giving them the appearance of surrounding the branch. The light lavender-pink flowers appear June through August to add a little summer color to the landscape.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Callicarpa americana is often confused with:
- Callicarpa acuminata
-
Callicarpa dichotoma
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Ilex verticillata
-
Lindera benzoin
-
Cornus florida
