# American beautyberry (*Callicarpa americana*) The American beautyberry is a lovely shrub that grows colorful purple berries. These berries are not only pretty but also attract birds and other animals who love to eat them! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 35 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Beautyberry ![American beautyberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Callicarpa_americana_infructescence.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alex Abair, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Callicarpa_americana_infructescence.jpg) ## Appearance The American beautyberry has arching branches adorned with pale green, oval leaves. In fall, its most striking feature emerges: dense clusters of iridescent magenta-purple berries that tightly hug the stems, creating a vivid contrast. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Callicarpa ## Interesting facts - Birds find beautyberry's colorful fruits especially tasty after the first freeze! - Its vibrant berries often remain on branches long after leaves have fallen. - Native Americans traditionally used parts of this plant for various purposes. - The name "Callicarpa" literally means "beautiful fruit" in Greek! ## Special abilities - **Bug Banisher Leaves:** American beautyberry leaves can release compounds that naturally repel mosquitoes and other annoying insects. - **Resilient Rooter:** This plant can quickly regrow from its roots, helping it bounce back after wildfires or heavy pruning. - **Drought Defender:** American beautyberry can survive in dry conditions thanks to its efficient water usage and deep root system. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-200 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Early Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Its berries provide important winter food. - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse its leaves and young stems. - **Pollinates:** European Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its small, pinkish flowers. ## Traits - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low While beautyberries are safe to touch, it's best to look and not eat unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American beautyberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American beautyberry? 100-200 cm ### How wide does American beautyberry spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on American beautyberry? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does American beautyberry bloom? Late Spring to Early Summer ### Is American beautyberry edible? No ### Is American beautyberry toxic? Mild ### What is American beautyberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bullock County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bullock-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Charlotte Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlotte-street-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District [View all places to see American beautyberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-beautyberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American beautyberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-beautyberry)