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[title size=”2″]Beautyberry[/title]

The Beautyberry shrub, also known as the American beautyberry or the French mulberry, is a deciduous plant that grows in temperate regions with mild winters and long summers. The specific species callicarpa americana is native to the Southern United States and also found in the Caribbean and Central America. Since it is fast growing, the beautyberry shrub can grow from 4 to 8 feet tall. Its green leaves grow in an opposite manner than that of the clusters of fruit or flowers between them. These clusters are the most identifiable characteristic of the beautyberry shrub. Their bushes grow in sandy or clay soils and they prefer partial sun conditions. Beautyberries have small purplish pink flowers and deep purple clusters of berries. Its flowers bloom in early summer from June to July. The berries ripen following the bloom, lasting from late summer (August) to late autumn (November). The berries provide food for birds late into winter while the leaves serve as a nutrition source for deer. They can also be made into wines, teas, and jellies. The berries are fairly sweet but can only be consumed in small doses because of their astringent nature. Even though the plant is native to the wild of the United States, it has been appropriated and highly cultivated for gardens and farms.

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Callicarpa americana

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