SafePlants

Beautyberry (Callicarpa)

Beautyberry, belonging to the genus Callicarpa, is a striking shrub or small tree prized for its vibrant berry clusters and attractive foliage. These plants can add a splash of color to any garden or natural landscape.

Considerations for Pets

• Beautyberry produces tightly clustered berries that persist into winter.

Considerations for Children

• Beautyberry produces tightly clustered berries that persist into winter. The berries are slightly astringent and best eaten raw only a few at a time.

Scientific Classification

• Genus: Callicarpa
• Family: Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae is also mentioned in text)

Nomenclature

• Species: bodinieri var. giraldii
• Cultivar: 'Profusion'
• Synonyms: Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion'
• Common Names: Beautyberry, American beautyberry, French mulberry, sbush, bunchberry, purple beauty-berry, Beautyberry 'Profusion'

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to east and southeast Asia, Australia, and Madagascar.
• American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is native to the southern U.S. and West Indies, particularly East Texas, especially in the coastal plain pinelands and throughout the Southeast. Also found in China, Korea and Japan.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Deciduous shrub that can be either evergreen or deciduous.
• American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) typically grows 3-5 ft tall and wide, but can reach 9 ft in favorable conditions.
• Forms a loosely-arranged, rounded shrub, typically five to eight feet tall and wide.
• Leaves are simple, opposite, and 5-25 cm long.
• Blooming pink in spring and fall, the Beautyberry has fruit clustered along the stem.
• Grown for its rows of lilac-violet, round, glossy, tiny fruit.
• Has fragrant, fuzzy green foliage.

Ecological Role

• A major fall source of food for wildlife.
• Attractive to wildlife.
• Used in buffer plantings and ecological restoration.

Quirky Facts

• The genus name Callicarpa, derived from Greek, means "beautiful seeded".
• Researchers are finding evidence that beautyberry, long used as a folk remedy, really is an effective natural insect repellent.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Foliage is considered moderately deer-resistant.
• Recent studies indicate beautyberry leaves contain several very strong mosquito repellent molecules.

Further Resources

• Clemson Cooperative Extension: [Mentioned in text, needs to be linked]
• Dave's Garden: [Mentioned in text, needs to be linked]
• Monrovia: [Mentioned in text, needs to be linked]
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wildlife Resources Management Manual: [Mentioned in text, needs to be linked]
• Native American Seed: [Mentioned in text, needs to be linked]