Common Name: American beautyberry
Scientific Name: Callicarpa americana

To increase our local biodiversity and support native insects and pollinators, we are planting our Raleigh, NC yard with native plants such as American beautyberry and will continue to document the North Carolina and Southeast U.S. native species we have trialed. This includes flowering annuals and perennials, trees, shrubs, sedges and vines. An excellent resource to learn more about the required growing conditions of American beautyberry and other plants native in your state is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s tool – FIND PLANT. Click for a table of all our native plants.

Common Name	American Beautyberry
Scientific Name	Callicarpa americana
Plant Type	Deciduous native shrub
Native Range	Southeastern United States, including North Carolina
USDA Hardiness Zones	6–10
Light Requirements	Full sun to partial shade; produces the best berry display in full sun.
Water Requirements	Medium; prefers moist, well-drained soils but tolerates drought once established.
Mature Size	3–8 ft tall and 3–8 ft wide
Bloom Time	Late spring to early summer (May–July)
Flower Color	Small pink to lavender
Wildlife Value	Bright purple berries provide an important fall and winter food source for birds, including mockingbirds, robins, cardinals, and towhees. Flowers attract native bees and other pollinators.
Landscape Uses	Native shrub borders, woodland gardens, pollinator gardens, wildlife habitat, naturalized landscapes, and foundation plantings.
Interesting Fact	The vibrant clusters of metallic purple berries persist well into winter and are one of the most recognizable features of southeastern native landscapes. Crushed leaves have also been traditionally used as a natural insect repellent.