Images Depict Mature Plants
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
“American Beautyberry is one of those plants that gives back all year long — flowers for the pollinators, berries for the birds, and incredible color for you. I love its natural shape and how easy it is to grow. It’s a native shrub that truly earns its place in any garden — resilient, beautiful, and full of life.”
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American Beautyberry – Native Shrub with Vibrant Purple Berries | Wildlife & Pollinator Favorite
A true native showstopper.
The American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a stunning native shrub celebrated for its clusters of bright purple berries that appear in late summer and last well into fall. Growing naturally across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, this hardy shrub adds vivid seasonal color and wildlife value to any landscape. In spring and summer, small pinkish flowers bloom along arching stems, followed by glossy purple berries that birds can’t resist.
Perfect balance of beauty and resilience.
This low-maintenance, deer-resistant native shrub thrives in a range of conditions — from full sun to partial shade and even poor soils. Once established, it becomes drought-tolerant, making it ideal for sustainable and wildlife-friendly gardens. Its arching form reaches about 3–6 feet tall and wide, creating a graceful, informal look that blends beautifully with naturalized or cottage-style plantings.
A must-have for pollinators and songbirds.
The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in early summer, while the berries provide food for mockingbirds, cardinals, and other native species throughout fall and winter. Whether used as a specimen plant, in a mixed shrub border, or naturalized along a woodland edge, American Beautyberry delivers four-season interest and ecological benefits few other shrubs can match.
Easy to grow, easy to love.
Plant your Beautyberry in well-drained soil and full sun to light shade, and you’ll enjoy years of color and wildlife activity. Its vibrant berries contrast beautifully against fall foliage, and the stems can even be cut for floral arrangements. Hardy, adaptable, and undeniably eye-catching, this native shrub brings natural beauty and purpose to every garden.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-10 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 5 to 8 Feet |
| Mature Width: | 5 to 8 Feet |
| Classifications: | Broad leaved deciduous shrub, late spring flowering |
| Sunlight: | Full sun to part sun |
| Habit: | Upright, rounded, densely branched |
| Flower Color: | White flowers in summer turning to purple fruit |
| Foliage: | Medium green turning yellow in the fall |
| Pruning Season: | Late winter to early spring, promotes increased branching and more flowers |
| Soil Condition: | Any well-drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as a focal point in the mixed border, mass planting, or a specimen planting. Provides nectar sources for pollinators |
How to Care for American Beautyberry
After purchasing your American Beautyberry shrub, be sure to read our recommended care instructions to ensure a healthy and happy plant for years to come.
How should I plant my American Beautyberry shrub?
Choose a location with full sun to partial shade and soil that drains well. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and at the same depth as the container. Place the shrub in the hole, fill it back with native soil, and water deeply to settle the roots. Add a thin layer of mulch around the base to help retain moisture, but keep it away from the crown. Once established, American Beautyberry requires little maintenance and adapts well to most soil types, even sandy or clay soils.
How often should I water American Beautyberry?
Water newly planted shrubs once or twice weekly during their first growing season. After establishment, American Beautyberry becomes drought-tolerant and needs supplemental watering only during prolonged dry spells. Avoid overwatering, as too much moisture can stress the roots. In most regions, natural rainfall is sufficient once the shrub is mature, especially in well-draining soils.
How do I fertilize American Beautyberry?
Fertilize lightly in early spring using an all-purpose, slow-release fertilizer or compost. Avoid heavy fertilization — this native shrub performs beautifully in average soils without extra nutrients. An annual application of organic compost around the root zone encourages healthy growth, bright foliage, and abundant berry production.
How and when should I prune American Beautyberry?
Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove any dead or crossing branches to encourage a strong, open structure. Beautyberry blooms and fruits on new wood, so pruning promotes better flowering and berry production. Light shaping can also help maintain a tidy form in smaller garden spaces. Older shrubs can be rejuvenated by cutting them back to about one-third of their height every few years.
