Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry)

Callicarpa americana, also known as American beautyberry, is an eye-catching forest understory shrub that grows to 4-8' feet tall and wide. Common across much of the American southeast, beautyberry is known for its vibrant pink-purple berries that add a ton of ecological and ornamental value to the home landscape. In the spring, bright lime-green foliage emerges, followed by pink-lavender flowers in early summer that attract bees and butterflies. Later in the summer, pollinated blooms turn to persistent, showy berry clusters, which contrast well with vibrant yellow autumn foliage; berries persist after leaves have fallen, providing food for a number of birds and small mammal species, and adding multi-season interest through the winter season. American beautyberry differs from other non-native beautyberries by the large size of its leaves, and by the tightness of its berry clusters around the shrub's branches -- non-native beautyberries (like Chinese beautyberry - Callicarpa dichotoma) instead have smaller leaves and dangling clusters of berries.

American beautyberry performs best in full sun to partial shade and can be easily grown in a variety of dry to moist, well-drained soils though it will also tolerate wetter, heavier soils once established. For the best visual effects and berry production, Callicarpa americana can be planted in masses or hedges, and it works very well as a naturalized understory plant or alongside bodies of water to add a splash of color. Easily spotted even in shady forested locations by its namesake vivid berries, Callicarpa americana is a great addition to the landscape almost year-round, with its vibrant colors standing out among the crowd even in the dead of winter. And with American beautyberry's reliability and tolerance of deer damage, drought, and inundation, it's also a highly versatile ecological pick for any landscape.