The American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a moderate-to-large-size native perennial shrub that grows throughout the state of Louisiana. They are often found in forested areas but are grown as specimen plants in the landscape. While sometimes considered an understory plant, American beautyberry needs full sun or dappled shade to thrive. American beautyberry is adapted to many soils and is able to thrive in moist and drier areas but prefers acidic soils. The lime green opposite-leaved foliage provides an excellent contrast to the vibrant and eye-catching fruit that surrounds the stem at leaf nodes. The late summer onset of fruit is often a deep purple but is available in a variety of attractive colors of white, pink, burgundy and more. These plants sometimes show up as volunteers because birds, especially songbirds, absolutely love the large clusters of berries and help to spread the seed. As a result, these are the perfect plants for someone interested in attracting wildlife to the landscape while offering a marvelous pop of color in the fall. American beautyberry is a very low-maintenance landscape plant, only needing light thinning if desired. Sheering will remove flowers and fruit. Overgrown plants can be reset pruned. Try planting many together to create an attractive native screen or hedge.
These inconspicuous summer flowers attract pollinators; however, the plant is often sought after for its ripened fruit.