Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
Other 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.
Plant as a specimen, or in shrub borders, wildlife gardens, or even in containers.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Family name Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)
Can tolerate shade but better fruit in sun; prefers root moisture. Good in mass plantings, particular when fruiting.
Quick ID Hints:
- petiole 1/2-1 inch long
- magenta fruit clusters around node
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White fruits - 'C. americana var. lactea'
- 'C. americana var. lectea'
- 'Alba'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White fruits - 'C. americana var. lactea'
- 'C. americana var. lectea'
- 'Alba'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Callicarpa
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Oils from the leaves act as a natural insect repellent.
- 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, American robin, brown thrasher, purple finch, eastern towhee, and other songbirds, small mammals, white-tailed deer, and black bear. It is a very important fall food for migrant songbirds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- 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. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Very Dry
- 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
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of glossy pink-purple to red-violet drupes in fall. Magenta fruits circling the stem at nodes, prolific and showy.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- 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 bloom in cymes at axils June through August to add a little summer color to the landscape.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple, elliptical-ovate, 3 ½ - 6" long, ½ as wide, serrated, medium green, pubescent on top, tomentose below with glands. Petiole is ½ - 1" long.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Callicarpa americana is often confused with:
- Callicarpa acuminata
-
Callicarpa dichotoma
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Taxodium distichum
-
Oxydendrum arboreum
-
Ilex verticillata
