American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-10b Find Your Zone >

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 5-6′

Width at Maturity: 5-6′

Spacing: 4-5′ for solid hedge; 8’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Arching Stems, Broad, Rounded, Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Pink-lavender

Flower Size: Tiny flowers in clusters

Flowering Period: Spring

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes

Berry Color: Bright Violet

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Birds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Insect

Description

American Beautyberry is a fast-growing North American native shrub with fragrant, fuzzy green foliage but is more prized for the abundant clusters of colorful, pearl-like berries it produces. In mid-summer, each leaf axil is surrounded by loads of small, soft pink to blue flowers followed by clumps of powerfully bright purple berries that are shaped like small pearls. The leaves turn yellow in the fall and the berries persist through winter or until the birds get them all.

The USDA says beautyberry has insecticidal properties that repel mosquitoes, ants, ticks and other pesky critters. We’ve tried it with success. So you can plant this beauty of a shrub near outdoor living spaces to help keep the bugs away and also to make your own insect repellent!

How To Make Mosquito Repellent From The Leaves & Stems Of Beautyberry Plants

Did you know that the berries from Callicarpa (Beautyberry) can be used to make a tasty jelly and the leaves and stems to make an effective mosquito repellent?

How To make Jelly From The Berries Of Beautyberry Plants

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing in a mound 5-6 feet tall and wide, American Beautyberry is ideal for use as an accent shrub, in groupings, or as a natural hedge in sunny to partially shaded landscape or woodland borders. It is a must for bird gardens and the branches with berries are a great addition to floral arrangements. A fine addition to bird gardens, native plant gardens, cottage gardens, sunny woodland gardens, and purple theme color gardens.

Spacing: 4-5′ for solid hedge; 8’+ for space between plants

How To Measure A Planting Area For Total Square Feet >

How Many Plants to Fill a Planting Area >

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Beautyberry is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Beautyberry is exceptionally easy to grow and care for with no serious insect or disease problems. Deer and other critters don’t like it either. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution, thriving well even in inner city environments. Choose a sunny to partially shaded site for planting. In warmer climates (Zones 7-8), some shade or filtered sun during the hottest part of summer afternoons is appreciated. Beautyberry is not particular as to soil type or pH. It prefers average to moist conditions however will tolerate periods of dry weather when established.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to get helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Beautyberry bushes.

How To Plant & Care For Beautyberry >

Plant Long & Prosper!

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It arrived in great shape…..carefully wrapped. I planted it immediately and am looking forward to watching it mature.—————————–Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This was my first purchase, and I was so thrilled I chose Wilson Bro. for the plants. These arrived timely and beautifully shipped. The plants were super healthy and I got them in the ground immediately. We are in a drought situation in Virginia and they are doing well as long as I keep them watered. Great purchase and plan to order from them again.———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This dormant plant arrived in very good condition, and I am looking forward to adding another native planting to my yard. Thank you.——————————————Thanks for the awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The product came quickly and in excellent condition–despite arriving in 95-degree weather. I ordered it around the beginning of July and over the last month and a half has put on foliage and even some immature berries. It hasn’t had time to fully mature, but I expect no problems. My only hope is to find a nursery that doesn’t sell invasives.——————————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beauty Berry arrived skillfully packed, undamaged and blooming. I’ve ordered from a number of other businesses usually with disappointing results.
I’ve learned my lesson! Wilson Brothers it is from now on.——————————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beautiful plants were received, planted promptly and are thriving. Thank you!—————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beautiful plant! It was very healthy and had good growth on it.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My first time purchase from Wilson Bros. Garden. Packaged well, received in great condition! I bought two of the American Beauty. They are super happy in their new home! I will definitely be buying from this company again!! Happy Gardener!—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Very happy with these beauty berry plants. I planted them, and they are pushing new growth in less than 2 weeks. Looking forward to watching them grow. I really like the way you packaged them. They arrived without any damage whatsoever.—————————————————We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

The bushes arrived in good shape.Excellent packaging and quick delivery. I am holding up
planting them outside until after frosts. They look extremely good and I am very pleased.
I will probably order more next year.—————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My Beautyberry shrub arrived in just a few days, & was packaged beautifully, no damage to the plant at all. I planted it right away, & it looked to be nicely rooted. I’m so anxious to see this bush grow next spring! Wilson Bros just became my favorite nursery!——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

PLANTS WERE PACKAGE VERY WELL AND ARRIVED IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. TOO EARLY TO TELL HOW THEY WILL DO AS THEY ARE DORMANT NOW. ORDER WAS PROCESSED QUICKLY AND ARRIVED ON TIME.————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG