Ooh, American Beautyberry. Good pick, gardener.

All plants Card

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Zones 6–13

Growing

This woody shrub is a standout addition to any landscape, particularly if you want to attract a diverse range of pollinators like various bees. When you are establishing new plants from cuttings or divisions, ensure they are placed in a location that receives full sun or partial sun. Because this species naturally spreads by dropping its own seeds, you may notice new seedlings appearing around the parent plant over time.

To keep your shrub looking its best, focus your pruning efforts during the fall or winter. Since the vibrant berries only develop on new growth, you should cut away older stems to encourage fresh, productive wood. While generally hardy, keep an eye on the foliage for signs of leaf spots or black mold, which can occasionally affect the plant.

If you are growing this in a container, ensure the pot provides even moisture and stays well-drained. This plant is quite adaptable to various soil conditions, as it thrives in a wide range of pH levels. Whether you are planting it in the ground or in a pot, its ability to survive hard freezes makes it a reliable, long-lasting feature for your garden.

Stats
Sunfull sun
Watermedium
Grow time—
Height>6ft
Spacing>24in
Light
Full sun✓
Part shade✓
Shade✗
Traits
Life cycleperennial
Categoryflowering shrub
Growth habitshrub
Frost tolerancehardy
Heightover 6ft
Spacingover 24in
Days to bloomover 150
Native us✓
Growing
Watermedium
Drainagemoist
Soil ph min4.5
Soil ph max8.0
Propagation
Seed✓
Cutting✓
Division✓
Graft✗
Tuber bulb crown✗
Transplant✓
Container ok✓
Spreadself seeds
Deer resistant✗
Drought tolerant✗
Toxic to
People—
Pets—
Livestock✗
Bloom
Length2–6wk
Colors
White✗
Yellow✗
Orange✗
Red✗
Pink✗
Purple✗
Blue✗
Green✗
Pollinators
Visitors
Honey bees✓
Native bees✓
Bumblebees✓
Butterflies✓
Moths✓
Hummingbirds✗
Beneficial insects✓
Nectarmedium
Pollenmedium
Larval host✗
Specialist bees✗
Seed for birds✓
Invasive
Statusnone
Regions
Northeast✗
Southeast✗
Midwest✗
Plains✗
Southwest✗
Mountain west✗
Pacific northwest✗
California✗
Hawaii✗
State noxious✗
Escapes cultivation✗
Calendar, zone 7
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sownonoyesyesyesnonononononono
Harvest————————————