American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Regular price $18

Container size:
4.5 in. wide x 5 in. deep / 32 fl. oz.

Beautyberry is a robust and fast-growing native shrub that produces an amazing display of bright magenta berries in the fall.

  • Berries attract birds
  • Drought tolerant
  • Easy to grow

Details

  • 5 to 8 ft. tall and wide - 4 to 6 ft. if cut back each spring
  • Leaves turn yellow and drop in the fall
  • Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 7, 8, 9, and 10
A 20-second video showing American Beautyberry in its full glory during late summer.

Flowering period

The small pink flowers open mid-summer while the berries ripen and turn purple in mid-September in central North Carolina.

How to grow

Beautyberry is adaptable, quick to establish, and drought tolerant. Grow in full sun to part shade – will grow in shade, but flower and berry production will be sparse. The secret to growing beautyberry is planting in moist, but well-drained soil as plants suffer when exposed to soil that stays too wet.

American beautyberry is one of the latest native shrubs to leaf out in the spring. This is because the new leaves are sensitive to frost and have evolved to wait until the danger of frost has passed before they start growing.

Care and maintenance

For a more compact plant and fuller display of berries, cut stems to 1 ft. above ground level before growth starts in spring.

Where to plant

At the back of flower beds, along woodland edges, and at property lines and driveways.

When to plant

From North Carolina south, beautyberry can be planted anytime the ground isn’t frozen. For adventurous gardeners further north, plant in the spring through mid-summer to get plants well-established before winter.

Spacing

If planting in a group, space plants 5 to 7 ft. apart.

When will my beautyberry produce fruit?

Plants planted in the spring should flower and produce berries during their first year in the ground. Beautyberry is self-fertile and only one plant is needed to produce fruit.

Native habitat and range

Grows on the edge of woodlands, usually in sandy soils from Virginia to Florida.

Source and origin

Plants are grown from seeds collected along the edge of a woodland in Moore County, North Carolina.

Comments

The leaves were once used in animal bedding to repel insects, and current research is investigating their use as a mosquito repellent. The berries can be eaten, but they don't taste very good.

States Orders up to $50 Orders $51 to $100 Orders over $100
AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV $16 $18 $20
AR, CT, FL, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WI $18 $20 $22
IA, KS, ME, MN, OK, and TX $20 $22 $24
CO, NE, ND, and SD $22 $24 $26

 

Sorry, we can't ship plants outside of the continental United States or to AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA due to agriculture restrictions.

When will my order be shipped?

All plants are shipped within two weeks of placing an order.

Is it okay to plant in the winter?

Yes, as long as the soil is not frozen. Planting native perennials in winter and early spring gives your plants a head start before the summer heat arrives.

What if it’s too cold to plant where I live, but I want to buy a plant before it sells out?

Dormant plants can safely be kept in a basement, garage, or cool room until you are ready to plant in late winter or early spring.

How will my plants get delivered?

Most orders are shipped on Monday or Tuesday via UPS Ground, which depending on the destination takes between 1 to 4 days.

Are your plants shipped in their containers?

Yes, all our plants are shipped in their growing containers. The majority are grown in containers that are 4.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep and 32 fl. oz. / 946 ml in volume.

Do you guarantee your plants?

We guarantee our plants to be healthy, ready for planting and correctly named. We are not able to guarantee whether a plant will grow in your garden as there are too many circumstances that are beyond our control.
On rare occasions, a plant shipped dormant may fail to emerge from its dormancy. If this happens, please let us know. If you are concerned about a plant, please contact us within 14 days to let us know. If we can’t help you make it grow, we’ll send you a new plant or issue a refund.

Can I return my plants?

You can return your plants if you no longer want them once they arrive. To receive a refund (minus 20% restocking fee) the plants must be returned in good condition. Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility. 

Can I cancel my order?

Yes, you can cancel your order. Please visit our terms and service page for details.

What about sales tax?

We propagate our own plants and are not required to collect North Carolina sales tax.

Where can I find information about your plants?

Here are some FAQ on how we grow plants.