American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Also called: French Mulberry
American Beautyberry. Callicarpa americana, the American beautyberry or French mulberry, is a deciduous shrub native to woodlands and thickets of the southeastern and south-central United States. Inconspicuous pink summer flowers give way to the plant's spectacular feature: dense clusters of brilliant iridescent magenta-purple berries that encircle the stems in fall and persist after leaf drop, feeding more than 40 species of songbirds and other wildlife.
Growing & care
- Sun: part shade to full sun; heaviest fruiting in more sun with adequate moisture.
- Water: average. Tolerates short drought once established but fruits best with consistent moisture.
- Soil: adapts to most soils; prefers rich, moist, well-drained woodland conditions.
- Hardiness: USDA zones 6–10.
- Mature size: 3–6 feet tall and wide; arching open habit.
- Pruning: cut back hard (to 12 inches) in late winter for a denser, more compact shrub — berries form on new wood, so this does not reduce fruiting.
Propagation
Softwood cuttings root readily in summer under mist. Fresh seed cleaned from the berries and sown germinates the following spring without complex treatment. Beautyberry also self-sows where birds drop seed.
Common problems
American beautyberry is nearly pest- and disease-free. Sparse fruiting usually means too much shade or drought stress during flowering. The open, somewhat gangly natural habit benefits from hard late-winter pruning for a fuller look. Leaves contain compounds (callicarpenal) being studied as natural insect repellents. Non-toxic to dogs and cats per ASPCA listings; the berries are edible to humans in small amounts (often made into jelly) and are a premier native wildlife and pollinator plant.
American Beautyberry — seeds, tools & books
Native range
Native to 13 states
