Callicarpa americana: American Beautyberry

[PalmatierMeg]

American beautyberry is a rambling shrub native to the southeast from MD through Tx (although I grew up in VA I don't remember ever seeing this plant in the wild). It grows 5-9' tall and has long trailing branches. In late summer through fall those branches are encircled by bright purple drupes/berries that give the plant its name. Those berries feed over 40 species of birds and mammals such as foxes, raccoons, oppossums, armadillos and deer. I have one of these bushes in a pot and recently noticed it had produced a bounty of berries.

American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana

[Eric in Orlando]

That is a great native, low maintenance shrub!

There are a couple nice cultivars. 'Lactea' has white berries and 'Welch's Pink' has pink.

 

 

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Neat cultivars. I really like the dark green leaves on the 'Welch's Pink."

[metalfan]

Yeah they feed all those birds and every berry they eat has a seed they poop out and spread like an invasive. I am constantly pulling up beauty berry . But I have seen recipes online for jam you can make from the berries so maybe its not all bad

[Missi]

They grow like weeds in and around my property and are pretty stubborn to herbicide. I heard the berries are not that tasty. My chickens won't even eat them.