Botanical Name: Callicarpa americana

Common Name: American Beautyberry

Mature Height and Width:
4–6′ tall × 4–6′ wide

Growth Habit: Upright, arching deciduous shrub with a naturally loose, open structure. Forms a rounded but airy mound with graceful outward-curving stems. Moderate growth rate.

Foliage Description: Medium green, ovate leaves with lightly serrated margins. Foliage has a soft, matte texture and may yellow slightly before leaf drop. Deciduous in Zones 5–7.

Flower Description: Small, pale pink to lavender flowers borne in tight clusters along the stems at leaf nodes. Flowers are not highly showy individually but precede the ornamental fruit.

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Fruit: Bright metallic purple berry clusters encircling the stems at leaf nodes. Berries appear in late summer and persist into fall, creating the primary ornamental display.

Fall Color: Yellow-green; foliage drops while berries remain visible.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; best berry production occurs in full sun.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 6–10 (protected Zone 5 sites possible)

Notable Landscape Uses:
Pollinator gardens; woodland-edge plantings; naturalized borders; fall-interest shrub in mixed beds; backyard wildlife gardens; native landscape designs; mass plantings for berry display.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Beautyberry is not typically a preferred browse, though young stems may be sampled under pressure. Established plants generally recover well and sustain limited long-term damage in Zones 6–7.