plant spotlight: american beautyberry
You know it's almost fall in Charleston when the Callicarpa americana or American Beautyberry start showing off! We love the look of the bold berries, but beautyberry shrubs are truly a show stopper through every season. If you're looking for a low maintenance, native option for your garden, this is for you! The large deciduous shrub's bright green leaves emerge in the early spring and eventually, delicate light pink blooms appear as the season warms. In the late summer and early fall, the flowers fade and are replaced with bright purple berries. Have you seen them popping up around town?!? These berries provide fall and winter interest and act as a great food source for birds through the colder months. Typically, birds leave these berries on the shrub's stems until they ripen and become sweet later in the winter. Once the branches are bare, the long and arching stems add a sculptural element to the garden and should be cut back to about 1 foot high before spring, where leaves and flowers appear on new growth. Did you know their leaves even produce a chemical when crushed that helps repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fire ants? This is truly one of the most useful plants to add to your landscape!
Caring for American Beautyberry
This native shrub is easy to care for and thrives here in Charleston. They prefer full to part sun and will tolerate some shade, but will not perform well in deep shade. Plant beautyberry in large groups around ponds, in a pollinator garden, or even in containers. They grow well in various soil conditions, as long as there is good drainage, and need consistent watering during the first growing season but become very drought tolerant over time.
Learn more
Listen to our recent episode of Get Planting on OHM 96.3 FM, where we interviewed Paula from the South Carolina Native Plant Society about gardening for birds this fall. She shares more about her native gardening experience, the joy of birding in the Lowcountry, and tips for attracting more birds to your garden this upcoming season. Spoiler alert... planting beautyberry and other winter food sources are a must!
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