Callicarpa americana

Through spring and summer this native shrub sits unassuming in the landscape clothed in its simple medium sized green leaves. Some passersby may notice its pink flowers in late spring but come fall it really shows up with an incredible display of brilliant purple berries clustered tightly around its young branches. Related to Lantanas and Verbenas, American Beautyberry?s botanical name is derived from two Greek words meaning “beautiful? and “fruit?. It is easy to grow, not being fussy as to soil type and it can handle quite a bit of shade. The fruiting branches are sometimes cut and used in floral arrangements, birds feed on them in winter and some folks make jam with them. Once grow, not being fussy as to soil type and it can handle quite a bit of shade. The fruiting branches are sometimes cut and used in floral arrangements, birds feed on them in winter and some folks make jam with them. Once