Home Gardening

Beautyberry is a native, woodland plant
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - October 20, 2003

If you ever get the urge to stroll down a wooded path and not travel far from home to do so, consider taking a leisurely stroll at Clower Thornton natural area in Gulfport. Located just east of Hewes Avenue on Railroad Street, this naturalistic setting has a babbling brook, a new boardwalk and great wildlife habitat. We recently visited the site with a group of Master Gardeners to learn more about native plants. While we were there I couldn't resist taking photographs of one the south's most outstanding native shrubs, the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).

Beautyberry, or French Mulberry, is most easily recognized in the fall of the year because of its very attractive rosy-purple berries. These berries are its claim to fame since the summer flowers, although rosy pink are hardly noticeable. The showy nature of the fruit more than makes up for the humility of the Beautyberry flowers. Not only are the fruit colorful, but also the way the berries encircle the stems forming small clusters creates a very interesting landscape feature. People enjoy this splash of fall color provided by the berries, but for many wild birds they are an important source or water during the dry, fall months. Stems with berries are also used to add form and flare to cut flower arrangements.

Beautyberry is a woodland plant, but it can easily be grown in southern landscapes. Its open, mounding, irregular form fits well into many situations, especially those that already have a naturalistic setting. One suggestion is to plant it en masse under tall pines. It can be grown in full sun or partial shade, but will produce more berries with full sun exposure. Beautyberry is a relatively fast growing shrub, but may only live for 10 years or so. Plant it in well-drained soil and expect it to reach 6 feet tall and wide at maturity.

This excellent native plant needs very little care and maintenance. It is attacked by few insects or diseases, requires very little fertilizer and no pruning. However, it is common practice to cut it down to about 6 inches tall in late winter since it flowers and produces berries on new growth.

Beautyberry may not be easy to find in the retail marketplace but it is easily propagated from seed or cuttings. Softwood cuttings can be taken from June to September. Seeds can be left on the bush until December then directly sown. Seed may also be collected, cleaned and cold stratified (i.e. moist refrigeration) for 90 days before sowing.

Native trees and shrubs can be great additions to southern landscapes. If you would like to see some good examples of Beautyberry, take a walk in the woods or look on your left at the end of the path at Clower Thornton. Happy Gardening!

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.