While beautyberry’s medium green foliage (ovate, toothed leaves on arching stems) is unspectacular and its flowers are fairly insignificant, its bright purple berries that grow in plump clusters put on a show. (Some varieties have white berries instead.) The berries appear in the late summer or early fall and can persist into winter, providing visual interest for the landscape and food for wildlife. The berries are edible for both people and animals, and some people even use them to make jelly and other foods. Typically, as long as you live within beautyberry’s growing zones, the native soil and conditions will be fine to successfully grow a healthy plant. This shrub is not prone to pest or disease problems. And maintenance for it is minimal, especially once it’s established. Plan to water during stretches without rainfall, and prune as needed to maintain the shape of the shrub.
Light
Beautyberry shrubs generally do fine either in full sun or partial shade, meaning at minimum two hours of direct sun per day. They naturally grow on the edges of wooded areas where the amount of sunlight they get can vary. More sunlight will result in higher berry production. However, more sunlight will also increase the shrub’s need for water.
Soil
Beautyberry shrubs prefer friable soil (soil with a crumbly texture) that’s rich in organic matter and has good drainage. And they prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. This mimics the forest floor where they naturally grow. However, they can tolerate most soil types, including clay soil, except soil that’s severely lacking in nutrients.
Water
These plants like moist soil, but they can tolerate somewhat dry conditions. Roughly 1 inch per week of water is ideal. But if your shrub is in a particularly sunny spot, you’ve had hot weather, or you’ve had minimal rainfall, the plant will likely benefit from more water.
Temperature and Humidity
Beautyberry shrubs thrive throughout their hardiness zones and don’t have any particular temperature or humidity requirements. They do have good heat tolerance as long as their moisture needs are met.
Fertilizer
These shrubs generally do not need fertilizer unless you have very nutrient-poor soil. A shovelful or two of compost in the spring can benefit beautyberry’s growth. But too much fertilizer can result in decreased berry production.
Types of Beautyberry
There are several types of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), including:
‘Alba’: This beautyberry shrub is known for its white berries.‘Lactea’: This beautyberry also features white fruits.‘Welch’s Pink’: This shrub is known for its pink berries.
Pruning
Because beautyberry shrubs bloom on new wood, they are generally pruned as desired for shaping in the late winter before new growth begins. Beautyberry’s berries can last throughout the winter months, giving a bright pop of color to your winter garden. But you should still go forward with pruning, even if it means sacrificing some berries, because it will lead to better berry growth in the future. At the northern end of their growing zones, these shrubs are often pruned down to within 1 foot of the ground each year in the winter because the cold can make the old growth unattractive.
Propagating Beautyberry
The beautyberry shrub will reseed itself, and you can propagate it by digging out volunteer seedlings that pop up around the plant and replanting them in a new location. You also can propagate the shrub from cuttings taken in the late spring or early summer. This is an inexpensive and easy way to make more of a shrub variety that you particularly like. Here’s how:
How to Grow Beautyberry From Seed
Beautyberry seeds are slow to germinate, and germination is somewhat erratic. To increase your chances of germination, start with a generous amount of seeds.
Overwintering
Outside of potentially pruning your shrub close to the ground, no special treatment for the winter is typically necessary. But you can add a layer of mulch around the base of your shrub to help keep the roots at a consistent temperature.
How to Get Beautyberry to Bloom
Beautyberry flowers are largely insignificant, but they are necessary for the fruit production that the shrub is known for. The flowers come in shades of purple, pink, and white. They arrive in the spring and summer, growing in clusters with each flower stretching less than an inch across. Insufficient sunlight is often the culprit if your beautyberry isn’t blooming. The shrub also might not be getting enough water. But as long as conditions are right, no special care is typically necessary during the shrub’s bloom time.
Common Problems With Beautyberry
Beautyberry shrubs don’t frequently have issues when grown in the environment they like. But sometimes conditions can cause atypical growth.
Leaves Turning Brown
In the fall, beautyberry foliage usually turns a golden yellow. However, frost can cause the leaves to go straight from green to brown before they drop for winter. So if you notice browning leaves in the fall prior to the yellow fall foliage you’re used to, that might be the culprit. However, the foliage should come back healthy in the spring.
