Gardening Plants & Flowers Shrubs

How To Grow and Care For Beautyberry

beautyberry shrub

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a deciduous shrub found naturally in the southeastern United States. It grows between 3 and 6 feet tall and wide on average, though it's been known to reach 9 feet tall. It has a moderate growth rate, gaining around 1 to 2 feet per year until it is mature, and it can be planted in the fall or spring. These plants tolerate full sun to partial shade and while they like moist soil, can tolerate somewhat dry conditions.

Common Name American beautyberry, beautyberry, French mulberry
Botanical Name Callicarpa americana
Family Verbenaceae
Plant Type Shrub
Mature Size 3–6 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide
Sun Exposure Full, partial
Soil Type Loamy, clay, moist, well-drained
Soil pH Acidic, neutral
Bloom Time Spring, summer
Flower Color Pink, purple, white
Hardiness Zones 6–10 (USDA)
Native Areas North America

Beautyberry Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a beautyberry.

  • Native soil is fine within beautyberry's growing zones
  • Grows well in full sun to partial shade
  • Maintenance is minimal; plant is not prone to pest or diseases
  • Water during stretches without rainfall
  • Prune as needed to maintain shape
bayberry shrub

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

closeup of bayberries

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

pulled out view of a bayberry shrub

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

White beautyberries
MASAHIRO NAKANO / amanaimagesRF / Getty Images
beautyberry shrub by a wall
Digipub / Getty Images

Light

Beautyberry shrubs generally do fine either in full sun or partial shade, meaning at minimum two hours of direct sun per day. They naturally grow on the edges of wooded areas where the amount of sunlight they get can vary. More sunlight will result in higher berry production. However, more sunlight will also increase the shrub's need for water.

Soil

Beautyberry shrubs prefer friable soil (soil with a crumbly texture) that's rich in organic matter and has good drainage. And they prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. This mimics the forest floor where they naturally grow. However, they can tolerate most soil types, including clay soil, except soil that's severely lacking in nutrients.

Water

These plants like moist soil, but they can endure somewhat dry conditions. Roughly 1 inch per week of water is ideal. But if your shrub is in a particularly sunny spot, you've had hot weather, or you've had minimal rainfall, the plant will likely benefit from more water.

Temperature and Humidity

Beautyberry shrubs thrive throughout their hardiness zones and don't have any particular temperature or humidity requirements. They do have good heat tolerance as long as their moisture needs are met.

Fertilizer

These shrubs generally do not need fertilizer unless you have very nutrient-poor soil. A shovelful or two of compost in the spring can benefit beautyberry's growth. But too much fertilizer can result in decreased berry production.

Types of Beautyberry

There are several types of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), including:

  • 'Alba': This beautyberry shrub is known for its white berries.
  • 'Lactea': This beautyberry also features white fruits.
  • 'Welch's Pink': This shrub is known for its pink berries.

Pruning

Because beautyberry shrubs bloom on new wood, they are generally pruned as desired for shaping in the late winter before new growth begins. The berries may last throughout the winter months, bringing bright color to your winter garden. But you should still go forward with pruning, even if it means sacrificing some color, because it will lead to better berry growth in the future.

At the northern end of their growing zones, these shrubs are often pruned down to within 1 foot of the ground each year in the winter because the cold can make the old growth unattractive.

Propagating Beautyberry

The beautyberry shrub will reseed itself, and you can propagate it by digging out volunteer seedlings that pop up around the plant and replanting them in a new location. You also can propagate the shrub from cuttings taken in the late spring or early summer. This is an inexpensive and easy way to make more of a shrub variety that you particularly like. Here's how:

  1. Cut a section of healthy stem that's around 6 inches long. Avoid old woody stem.
  2. Remove any leaves on the lower half of the cutting.
  3. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant it in a small container filled with moist soilless potting mix.
  4. Put a clear plastic bag over the container to help retain moisture, and place the container in bright, indirect light.
  5. Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Once you see notable foliage growth, you'll know roots have formed. It can take about two to three months for substantial root growth. Then, the new shrub is ready for transplanting.

How to Grow Beautyberry From Seed

Beautyberry seeds are slow to germinate, and germination is somewhat erratic. To increase your chances of germination, start with a generous amount of seeds.

  1. In the fall, gather seeds from very ripe berries. Let them air-dry, and store them in a cool, dark place.
  2. In late winter, soak the seeds in cool water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat. Fill 4-inch pots or seedling trays with a seed-starting mix. Water it slowly until the soil is evenly moist.
  3. Place around six seeds in each pot, and cover the seeds only lightly with soil.
  4. Place the pots indoors near a bright window. Make sure the soil is constantly moist but not soggy. Germination can take up to three months.
  5. Keep all but the strongest seedling in each pot, and cut off the rest with scissors. Don't pull the extra seedlings out, as this can damage the roots of the other seedlings.
  6. Once the root system of the new beautyberry has filled the pot (when roots start to grow out of the drain holes), it is ready to be transplanted outdoors.

Overwintering

Outside of potentially pruning your shrub close to the ground, no special treatment for the winter is typically necessary. But you can add a layer of mulch around the base of your shrub to help keep the roots at a consistent temperature.

How to Get Beautyberry to Bloom

Beautyberry flowers are largely insignificant, but they are necessary for the fruit production that the shrub is known for. The flowers come in shades of purple, pink, and white. They arrive in the spring and summer, growing in clusters with each flower stretching less than an inch across. Insufficient sunlight is often the culprit if your beautyberry isn't blooming. The shrub also might not be getting enough water. But as long as conditions are right, no special care is typically necessary during the shrub's bloom time.

Common Problems With Beautyberry

Beautyberry shrubs don't frequently have issues when grown in the environment they like. But sometimes conditions can cause atypical growth.

Leaves Turning Brown

In the fall, beautyberry foliage usually turns a golden yellow. However, frost can cause the leaves to go straight from green to brown before they drop for winter. So if you notice browning leaves in the fall prior to the yellow fall foliage you're used to, that might be the culprit. However, the foliage should come back healthy in the spring.

FAQ
  • How long can beautyberry live?

    These shrubs can survive for several years in the right conditions. Plus, they often drop seeds that can stay dormant in the soil, bursting to life after the original plant is gone.

  • What are alternatives to beautyberry?

    Beautyberry is not the only plant that offers beautiful berries as its centerpiece. Cotoneaster offers vivid red berries in fall and winter. Buckland is an evergreen shrub known for its purple berries. And, of course, American holly is famous for its vivid berries and uniquely shaped leaves.

  • Can beautyberry grow indoors?

    Beautyberry can be started as a seedling or cutting indoors and nurtured to prepare for planting. But because the shrub loves to spread out and needs space for its wide root system, it is best grown in a garden setting outdoors.