Callicarpa americana / American Beauty Berry (Mint Family)

Beautyberry is an arching, multi-stemmed, fast growing shrub. While it truly shines in fall when it produces large clusters of bright magenta berries, the cheery green leaves and small pink flowers are lovely garden accents in spring and summer. Fruit production is best in full sun, but plants look lovely at the woodland's edge and will still produce fruit with just a couple of hours of sun. They will grow in moist soil, but not consistently wet soil, and are fairly drought tolerant once established.Try planting as a hedge for a truly stunning fall fruit display. To keep plants between 4-5”, prune back stems to 6-10” above the ground in winter. Flowering occurs on new growth, so fruit production is promoted this way. Plants are self fertile, but will produce more fruit with 2 or more plants to cross pollinate. Berries are edible, but not very tasty off the bush–look up recipes for preserves or jellies.

Blooms: Pink, 3-4 weeks, May-June
Leaves: Bright green, simple, elliptical, 3-6”
Height: 4-8’ 
Space: 3-4’
Soil: Average-moist-dry
Exposure: Light shade-Full sun  
Fauna: Berries for birds and mammals
Seeds: Magenta berries form clusters around the stem starting in fall and into winter
Deer Resistance: High
Zone: 7-11
Native Status: NC Native, common in the Piedmont & Coastal Plain, rare in the Mountains
Provenance: NC Ecotype, seed grown