Arching branches with hundreds of bright purple berries make the American beautyberry one of the most spectacular native plants for landscape. Extraordinary beauty isn’t its only virtue either.
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks say that 40 species of songbirds, as well as quail, opossums and raccoons, are known to feed on the berries.
Those branches of fall-laden bright purple berries are often featured with yellow leaves in a wonderful show of nature’s complementary color scheme. Though we talk fall berries, you may also find the white-to-pink, late-spring-to-early summer blossoms to be an added garden element.
Known botanically as Callicarpa americana, it is native over a large area from Maryland to Florida west to Texas. Many may find it interesting that it is in the verbena family and also has the common name French mulberry, though it is not from France or a mulberry. The shape and the leaves might remind some of the red mulberry, Morus rubra.
Native adaptability, incredibly striking and perfect for backyard wildlife habitats brings up one burning question: Why isn’t everyone growing it?
It might be that gardeners simply don’t have the vision to incorporate it into the landscape. These plants seem to be most prolific at the edge of woodlands. The American beautyberry is not for the formal garden, but if you have a woodland landscape or an informal privacy screen you have a prime candidate.
The other reason gardeners might skip this plant is that it is deciduous. This reason is one that makes my hair turn gray. There are so many terrific landscape plants from azaleas to hollies to sweetspires that are deciduous and deserving of a spot in the garden. Simply put, every plant doesn’t have to be evergreen.
The American beautyberry can reach 6 to 8 feet tall, forming a clump almost as wide. The soil requirements are not rigid, as you will find it growing in those that might be considered luxuriantly fertile, to those that are poor. In rich soil conditions you will find the beautyberry spreading volunteers. I have found these easy to control but, on the other hand, I like being outside and don’t mind this task.
I like them planted informally at the edge of woodland borders but others like to mass plant them together. In that case, you will want to space the plants about 4 to 6 feet apart. Fruit will be more bountiful and showier if they do receive some direct sun. They bloom and fruit on new growth so pruning should be done in late winter, before spring growth. Many find that hard pruning produces a better shaped bush with the maximum fruit set. Savvy floral arrangers find these fruitful branches ideal for use in the vase with goldenrods, rudbeckias, sunflowers and zinnias.
The final reason gardeners might not be using the plant is demand. These wonderful plants are normally relegated to a garden center or nursery specializing in native plants. But if you and your friends will ask the garden center to get them in stock, I predict they will comply.
Once you get the American beautyberry planted, both you and the birds will be glad you did.
To learn more
For more information and photos of American beautyberry and hundreds of other native plants, go to wildflower.org, the Web site of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, part of the University of Texas at Austin.