Beautyberry, Bare Root

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

American Beautyberry is a fast-growing, open-form native shrub best known for its vivid clusters of electric-purple berries that persist into winter, feeding birds and brightening fall landscapes. Native to the southeastern U.S., this deciduous shrub thrives in part shade and a wide range of soils, making it an easy and rewarding addition to woodland edges, pollinator gardens, and wildlife-focused plantings. Its delicate pink blooms support pollinators in summer, while the berries provide a critical late-season food source for birds and small mammals.

Key Characteristics

• Brilliant purple berries feed birds in fall and winter
  Beautyberry’s namesake fruits appear in dense, luminous clusters along the stems and are relished by songbirds such as mockingbirds, cardinals, and brown thrashers. These berries persist well into the cold season, making the shrub a reliable food source when other fruits are scarce.
• Attracts pollinators with summer blooms
  In midsummer, small pink to lavender flowers bloom in leaf axils, drawing native bees and beneficial insects. The bloom timing makes Beautyberry a useful nectar source during a mid-season lull in floral resources.
• Adaptable and low-maintenance
  Beautyberry tolerates a wide range of conditions—from full sun to part shade and from loamy to sandy or clay soils. Once established, it handles drought well and can be pruned hard to shape or rejuvenate.
• Traditional uses for skin and insect repellent
  Native American tribes and early settlers used crushed Beautyberry leaves to repel mosquitoes and biting insects. Modern research has confirmed insect-repelling compounds in the foliage. The berries have also been used in jellies and tinctures, though they are best consumed cooked.
• Ideal for layered plantings and wildlife gardens
  With its arching form and seasonal interest, Beautyberry works well in the shrub layer of food forests, hedgerows, woodland edges, and native garden borders. It provides both structure and function across multiple seasons.

Product Details

• Native range: Southeastern U.S., from Maryland to Florida and west to Texas and Arkansas
• Plant life cycle: Deciduous Shrub
• Sun requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Soil requirements: Medium-dry to medium; adaptable to clay, loam, or sandy soils
• Mature height: 4–6 feet
• Bloom time: Midsummer (June–August)
• Bloom color: Pink to lavender
• USDA Hardiness zones: 6–10

American Beautyberry is a standout native shrub that offers bold color, strong ecological function, and adaptability. Perfect for supporting wildlife, adding seasonal flair, and integrating into regenerative planting systems.