Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Family: Lamiaceae · Also called American Beautyberry, French Mulberry, Purple Beautyberry, Callicarpa serrata, Burchardia callicarpa, Callicarpa viburnifolia
Green & Fresh · Autumn bloomer
Beautyberry earns its name in autumn when clusters of iridescent violet-purple berries encircle its stems in tight, jewel-like whorls. The color is so vivid and unnatural-looking that many people assume the berries are fake. The small pink flowers in summer are unremarkable, the plant saves all its drama for the berry display.
beauty, admiration, wonder
In the Victorian language of flowers, beautyberry means “Striking beauty”. The genus name Callicarpa means 'beautiful fruit' in Greek. Native Americans crushed the leaves and rubbed them on skin as an insect repellent, modern research confirmed the leaves contain compounds that repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fire ants. The berries are technically edible but bland; they're primarily food for birds.
Did You Know?
Beautyberry's purple color comes from a unique structural arrangement of cellulose in the berry skin that creates iridescence through light interference, similar to how a butterfly wing or soap bubble creates color. Scientists at the USDA have confirmed the leaf compounds callicarpenal and intermedeol are as effective as DEET at repelling mosquitoes.
Open woodlands, forest edges, and thickets in warm, humid climates
Beautyberry is native to Southeastern United States. It naturally grows in open woodlands, forest edges, and thickets in warm, humid climates.
Scent Profile
“The flowers are unscented, but crushed leaves release a pleasant aromatic scent. The real spectacle is visual, clusters of iridescent purple berries that look almost artificial in their intensity.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameCallicarpa americana
- FamilyLamiaceae
- Native ToSoutheastern United States
- Bloom SeasonAutumn
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
The genus name Callicarpa means 'beautiful fruit' in Greek. Native Americans crushed the leaves and rubbed them on skin as an insect repellent, modern research confirmed the leaves contain compounds that repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fire ants. The berries are technically edible but bland; they're primarily food for birds.