Callicarpa americana, Callicarpa bodinieri, Callicarpa x
Beautyberry is a plant that certainly lives up to its name! They may not catch your eye early in the season, but come late summer Beautyberries are ready to take center stage. As other plants begin to fade, Beautyberries flaunt clusters of shining purple berries that stand out against the warm colors of the season. These berries last long after the leaves have fallen, attracting birds and adding color well into winter. The long, arching branches fit perfectly into naturalized gardens or woodland borders.
Featured Varieties:
American Beautyberry – Native to the southeastern US, Callicarpa americana is a versatile species for Missouri gardens that can also benefit local wildlife. Delicate green foliage turns gold in the fall, adding striking contrast to the purple berries. 5-6 ft tall and wide.
Profusion – Similar in appearance to the American Beautyberry, Profusion is a cultivar of the Chinese Beautyberry that is more compact and uniform in habit. 4-6 ft tall and wide.
Pearl Glam – This Beautyberry hybrid brings out the best features of its parents, with the early fruiting of Callicarpa dichotoma and the shiny, purple foliage of C. kwangtungensis. The tidy, upright form of Pearl Glam is suitable for any garden needing some year-round interest. 4-5 ft tall by 3-4 ft wide.
- Beautyberries prefer part shade, either filtered by trees overhead or 4-6 hours of morning sun.
- Beautyberries are not terribly picky about their soil, but adding compost to improve drainage will promote more growth.
- Very few plants and diseases affect Beautyberries, but they can develop some minor leaf spot if air circulation is poor or humidity is high.
- Beautyberries benefit from a hard prune every few years to revitalize the shrub. In late winter, prune limbs back within 6-12 inches of the ground and remove one third of the thickest stems entirely to allow for new branching. Beautyberries bloom and fruit on new wood, so don’t worry about missing out!
Consider these companion plants:
