Photo of Callicarpa americana fruit by Karl Gercens III

Photo by Karl Gercens III

Used with permission, all rights reserved

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Callicarpa americana

Also Known As

  • American Beautyberry

Plant type

shrub, perennial

size

  • H: 3'-8'
  • W: 3'-6'

planting zones

  • 6a-10b

More Options

Callicarpa americana plant details

Callicarpa americana is a broadleaf deciduous perennial shrub with green foliage. In summer pink flowers emerge followed by purple fruit. Attracts birds and hummingbirds. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture water. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in clay, gritty, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Callicarpa americana

Plant type: perennial shrub
Plant family: lamiaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 3 FT - 6 FT - wide, 3 FT - 8 FT - tall
Flowers: pink blooms in summer

GROWING CONDITIONS for Callicarpa americana

USDA Zones: 6a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: clay, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Native to the southeastern US has a lovely purple-fruited, 6-10' shrub known as "French Mulberry? although it isn?t a mulberry, nor French; an undemanding plant with pink flowers much of the summer and clusters of shining violet berries in fall. S-PSh/M
An attractive and easily grown shrub, American Beauty Berry develops lavender-pink berries in late summer that persist into the winter long after the leaves drop. As the berries start to develop in the summer they have much darker purple color before developing through pink and lavender in the fall and winter. Beauty Berry is by far one of the most colorful plants for fall and early winter and is a great addition to keep any garden's year-round interest. During the summer the leaves are a bright green color and fade to yellow by fall, we have found these to look splendid when grown next to plants with bright red fall leaves. Although the berries are not edible to humans, they provide an excellent winter food source for birds.

American Beautyberry plants tolerate clay soil and high heat/humidity climates well. It is native to the Southern U.S. and can reach up to 8 feet tall in warm climates, while usually growing around 5 feet tall in cooler climates. This species can be grown in zone 5 and still produce the colorful berries but will stay much shorter, around 1-2' tall.
This native is excellent for naturalizing or when used in mass. Lavender-pink summer flowers give way to masses of violet berries in the fall. 4-5? in ten years. Recommended by: Garden Clubs of America

By: Fantastic Plants

An outstanding deciduous native shrub with a loose, open form and outward pointing branches. A somewhat less refined look than the Japanese Beautyberries because of the larger 6-8" long leaves, but the large berries steal the show in the genus! Tiny pink spring flowers turn into magnificent, 1/4" berries, packed tightly together in clusters encircling the stem in striking metallic shades of violet and magenta in Autumn.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Gardening facts about Callicarpa americana plant

How to Grow Callicarpa americana

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - mostly shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture
  • Soil Needs

    • clay
    • adaptable
    • well-drained
    • rich
    • gritty

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • pink
  • Wildlife

    • birds
    • hummingbirds
    • deer resistant
  • Fruit

    • purple
  • Flower Season

    • summer
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous

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