Callicarpa americana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Callicarpa americana var. alba
- Callicarpa americana var. lactea
- Callicarpa americana var. purpurea
- Callicarpa serrata
- Callicarpa vibrunifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- kal-ee-KAR-puh a-mer-ih-KAY-nah
- Description
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The American Beautyberry is a native, medium-sized, ornamental, deciduous shrub that produces showy purple fruits in the fall. It is a member of the Lamiaceae, or mint, family. This fast-growing shrub is native to the central and southeastern United States, as well as the Caribbean and northern Mexico. The shrub is also known as Beautyberry, American Mulberry, French Mulberry, or Sour-bush. The genus, Callicarpa, is Greek and means beautiful fruit. The species name, americana, means "of the Americas."
It is typically found in open meadows, thickets, or woodlands. In the spring, green leaves emerge on upright arching stems. Clusters of flowers bloom on the stems in colors of blue, violet, pink, or white during the late spring and early summer. Clusters of purplish to bluish berries develop in August through October and encircle the stem. A pink fruited and several white fruited forms have been found. The fruits may last through early winter. They are a good food source for songbirds and small mammals.
The shrub prefers full sun and is intolerant to deep shade. It can be propagated by seeds, stem cuttings, or transplanting volunteer plants. The American Beautyberry needs little care once it is established.
This fall-fruiting shrub is suited for mass plantings, large landscapes, naturalized areas, and container gardening. They seem to produce more fruit if several more of the same type shrubs are planted nearby. The leaves, when crushed, produce a chemical that can repel mosquitos.
The American Beautyberry is similar but taller than the Mexican Beautyberry.
Allow plenty of room for this large shrub unless regular pruning is done. If pruning is needed, it is best done in late winter. It is recommended that old canes be removed for rejuvenation of the shrub because the flowers and fruits appear on new shoots,
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Asian Garden- Zen Garden Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County Asian Garden- Zen Garden Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County Foundation Planting- West Side of House
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba'
White berries - 'Lactea'
White berries and attractive foliage - 'Russell Montgomery'
White berries - Welch's Pink
Pink berries
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Lactea', 'Russell Montgomery', Welch's Pink
- Tags:


















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White berries - 'Lactea'
White berries and attractive foliage - 'Russell Montgomery'
White berries - Welch's Pink
Pink berries
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Lactea', 'Russell Montgomery', Welch's Pink
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Callicarpa
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the roots, leaves, and branches to treat malaria and rheumatism. The roots were also used to treat dizziness and dysentery. In the past, U.S. farmers crushed the leaves and placed them under the harnesses of their horses and mules to repel mosquitoes. The Agricultural Research Service has found that two compounds in the leaves, callicarpenal, and intermedeol, act as a mosquito repellant.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southeastern United States, Bermuda, and Cuba
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NC, northern Mexico, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The shrub's clusters of berries are a food source for many songbirds, including the American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Purple Finch, and Eastern Towhee. The berries are also consumed by armadillos, foxes, opossum, raccoons, and squirrels. White-tailed deer are known to browse on the leaves in the summer and enjoy the fruits after leaf drops in the fall.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is low maintenance and diseases and pests problems are relatively low. Resistant to fire in landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are clusters of small bluish to purplish berries that form a whorl and encircle the stems. They appear in August through October and may last through the winter. They are a valuable food source for songbirds and small mammals. Each berry is about 1/4 inch long with 2 to 4 seeds. Each seed measures about 1/16 inch long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers emerge in clusters late spring to early summer on the new growth of the shrub where the leaves meet the stem. It gives them the appearance that they are surrounding the branch. The blooms may be blue, violet, pink, or white in color. They bloom in cymes at axils from June through July to add a little summer color to the landscape.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- 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 emerge in the spring on long arching stems. They are medium green in color, simple, ovate to elliptical in shape, and appear opposite in arrangement. The tip of the leaf is pointed or blunt, and the base is tapered. The margins are saw-toothed or serrated, and the undersides of the leaf may be covered with wooly hairs. They are usually 3 ½ - 6" in length and about ½ as wide. In the fall the leaves turn pale chartreuse before dropping from the shrub
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark color on the older wood is light brown, but the young wood appears reddish-brown. The bark is smooth, but corky ridges are seen.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are long, slender, and arching. They may be rounded to four-sided. They appear gray to reddish in color and may be covered with very fine hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire