American Beautyberry

A member of the Verbena family, this lovely open habit shrub features smooth red-brown bark, ovate, dentate leaves and, most importantly, the delightful berries for which it is named! The berries grow in dense, glossy bunches right along the stem, the color varying from deep purple to a fuchsia pink. The graceful, arching stems are attractive in their own right, but reach the pinnacle of beauty in the fall after they defoliate and reveal their treasure troves of berries!

The distinctive berries ripen in fall (September to October), drawing in cardinals, mockingbirds, and other songbirds by the score. The rare Northern Bobwhite is particularly attracted to the fruit. These sweet berries are suitable for human consumption, too, but only in small amounts. Unfortunately deer find this shrub quite tasty, too, so be sure to grow it in a well-enclosed yard or protect it with other deer repellents. American Beautyberry is good at repelling smaller pests, however -- it contains a citronella-like chemical that repels mosquitoes and other insects, particularly when the leaves are crushed.

While this shrub generally matures at a moderate size of 3 to 5 feet high and wide, in very favorable conditions it can grow as big as 9 feet high. This hardy perennial is a US native whose wild range spans the whole South from Florida to Texas. In these warm zones it will grow vigorous and trouble free! Naturally an understory plant in boggy areas, American Beautyberry thrives in part shade and moist to wet soil. Zones 7 to 10.