Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)

American Beautyberry is a loose open shrub valued for its spectacular fruits in Fall. The relatively insignificant flowers develop into prolific bright violet to magenta berry-like drupes that encircle the stem. These fruits remain attractive well into winter. This native plant prefers the soil of its natural forest floor habitat⏤a moist clay or sand enriched with organic matter. It will fruit most abundantly in full sun but may be grown in light shade. The plant needs minimal care once its roots are established. Matures at 3' x 6'. The size and loose open habit of beautyberry makes it best for the back of a shrub border where it may be massed or naturalized. (This is the native species, sometimes confused with the non-native Callicarpa dichotoma, the purple beautyberry native to China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. On the native, the fruit is in tight, compact clusters on the stem. On the non-native the fruits are positioned on pairs of short thin stalks above the stem. )

Beautyberry is a native shrub of the Southern U.S., but in Maryland it is considered extirpated⏤no longer found in the wild. Wildlife eat the purple berries and distribute the seeds. The berries are a favorite among wild birds including cardinals, mockingbirds, finches, woodpeckers, and more. Birds also seek cover in the shrub. Maryland DNR lists as deer-resistant. 

Photo by Kellen McCluskey

BONAP Native Range Map (bright green indicates county native, dark green indicates state native)

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