woodland shrub
American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
1 of 2Native to the Southeast
Virginia to Arkansas, south to Florida and eastern Texas
- Light Partial shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 6–10 Cold to heat range
- Bloom May–Jul Flowering time
- Height
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland shrub for partial shade and evenly moist soil. Hardy in USDA zones 6–10.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Ligated Furrow Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Pure Green Sweat bee, Two-spotted Longhorn Bee +4 more
Brown-winged Striped Sweat Bee, Parallel-striped Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum tarponense, Megachile pseudobrevis - Beetles Banded Longhorn Beetle
also Shiny Flea Beetle, Yellow-horned Flower Longhorn Beetle, Six-spotted Flower Longhorn Beetle +3 more
Eastern Five-striped Kuschelina, Red-lined Flea Beetle, Chrysobothris shawnee - Flower flies Virginia Giant Hover Fly also Dusky-winged Hover Fly
- Also visited by
- Butterflies: Palamedes Swallowtail, Limenitis astyanax
- Birds: Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird
- Moths: Manduca rustica
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Palamedes swallowtailnectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The SoutheastUnited States (14): AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Virginia to Arkansas, south to Florida and eastern TexasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Partial shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6–10The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, rich soils, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Acid-based, CalcareousThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Medium (loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 5.8–7.2The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- MediumHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- Semi-ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 16+ in (41+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- May–JulWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, cuttings, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.1 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- NoneWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.