American Beautyberry
- Shipping Available
Callicarpa americana
Callicarpa americana, also known as beautyberry, American beautyberry, or French mulberry, is a deciduous shrub native to the southeastern United States, northern Mexico, Bermuda, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other islands in the West Indies. It typically grows in forest edges, moist slopes, bluff tops, woodland openings, swamp margins, and fence rows.
When fully grown, the plant reaches a height of around 3-5 feet tall and has an open growth habit with arching branches. Its foliage is ovate to elliptic with serrated margins, ranging from 2-9 inches long to 0.75-5 inches wide, and is arranged oppositely.
The plant produces small, light pink to purple or blue-tinged flowers in dense, axillary clusters, which develop into bright, violet to magenta (rarely white) fruits. These fruits are showy, persistent, and ripen around mid-fall, serving as a food source for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife.
The beautyberry plant requires evenly moist, well-draining, sandy or clay soils with plenty of organic matter for optimal growth. If drainage is adequate, it can grow in nearly any soil type. While the plant can tolerate some drought once established, prolonged hot summer drought may lead to defoliation and poor fruiting performance. The best fruiting occurs when planted in sunnier spots.
In harsh winters or if planted in an exposed site, the plant may experience dieback in the colder end of its hardiness range, but it will resprout readily from the base, and fruiting should not be affected. Pruning in winter encourages more bushy, compact growth. Plants can be cut back as far as 1 foot from the base or around 2 feet less than the desired size. Deadwood should be removed in spring. The plant can be propagated from cuttings or seed.
Height: 3’-6'
Spread: 3’-6'
Bloom: June-August
Light: Part Shade, Dappled Shade
Water: Medium
Zone: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Origin: Texas, Southeastern U. S.
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
