American Beautyberry- Callicarpa americana
From the Tree & Landscape Board
American beautyberry is a native, deciduous shrub that is easily grown in the College Park area. Its standout feature is the magenta/purple (rarely white) berries that surround the stem starting in late summer into fall. The berries are readily eaten by mockingbirds, other songbirds, and small mammals. It will do well in full sun and can tolerate light shade. Fruiting will be more abundant in full sun and if two or more plants are planted together. It is easily propagated by seed and will self-seed if berries are left on the ground. The flowers are abundant but small and not particularly showy.
This isn’t a small shrub and new growth can reach six feet or more in a single season. It is easily managed by cutting all the stems back to 6 to12 inches in late winter. It can be a little late to leaf out in the spring so be patient with it. It is hardy from zones 6 to 12 and is naturally found in open woods, forest edges, and fencerows. It has a loose, open habit with leaves that can be six or more inches long. Use it as an anchor plant in a mixed border or in massed plantings in naturalized areas. Many websites refer to its natural habitat as moist soils, pond margins, etc. but it adapts well to garden settings and is drought tolerant once it is established.
Other information available at:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Form in fall in Moore County, NC.
