American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana
American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana
Scientific Name:
Callicarpa americana
Common Name:
American Beautyberry
Scientific Name Pronounciation:
kah-lee-KAR-pah uh-meh-rick-AH-nuh
Plant Type:
Shrub
Plant Hardiness Zones:
6b-11
Plant Hardiness Zone(s):
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Usual Size:
6-8’ H x 4-6’ W
Flower:
Small, tubular, pale pink-to-lavender blossoms at the base of leaf axils
Bloom Time Notes:
Summer
Leaf:
Opposite, large, and ovate-to-elliptical in shape; deciduous
Fruit:
Spherical clusters of round magenta drupes that ripen from Aug-Nov
Wildlife:
The berries are food to many species of birds, as well as opossums, raccoons, squirrels, and deer. Deer also eat the foliage.
Natural Habitat:
Woodland clearings, right-of-ways, and upland sites, growing in a wide variety of soil types from moist-to-sandy
Propagation:
Seed
Bloom Time:
- Summer
Sun or Shade:
- Sun
- Shade
Companion Plants:
Best used in mass plantings that can include Hydrangea quercifolia, Aronia arbutifolia and Rhododendron maximum
Cultural Notes:
Cultural notes: Native Americans used the roots, leaves, and branches for a variety of medicinal purposes. Crushed leaves are purported to repel mosquitos.