Beautyberries fall within the Callicarpa genus within the Lamiaceae family. These plants consist of shrubs and small trees and are native to the Americas, east Asia, Madagascar, and Australia.
There are temperate and deciduous species, with the tropical plants being evergreen. They are noted for their colorful autumn berries in various shades of purple that have a metallic appearance.
These berries are sometimes eaten by birds and other animals, but are generally avoided if other foods are available.
Since they serve as a backup food source, the berries are often present on bushes late into winter and can give a pop of color to an otherwise dreary landscape.
Flowering in the late summer, their blooms are clustered and have a white to white-pink hue.
Foliage consists of simple, opposite leaves that are 2-10 inches long, depending on the species.
Three species are commonly cultivated for use in landscaping. These include:
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) – Native to the Deep South and southeastern areas of the United States.
Bodinier’s beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri) – A cold-hardy species native to central China, and often grown in Europe as an ornamental.
Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica) – This Japanese native is also cultivated in parts of East Asia and the Americas.
Looking for more beautyberry information? Then check out all of our guides down below:
Now on Gardener’s Path, learn how to propagate the lovely native American shrub beautyberry. You’ll want as multitutes of these graceful plants with their large, light-green leaves, arching branches, and eye-catching purple berries, and it’s easy to get more plants from seeds or softwood cuttings. Find out more now.
Now, on Gardener’s Path, learn how to grow the lovely shrub American beautyberry, native to the southeast US. You’ll love the fall and winter interest provided by the plant’s long, arching branches laden with clusters of bright purple berries, which attract many bird species, and are edible for humans, too.