This week or Flora and Fauna Friday, we have a lavish lavender limbed local shrub to discuss. We’re shining a spotlight on the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).
American Beautyberry is found throughout South Carolina. From the Appalachian foothills to the barrier islands of Edisto. Its appearance is open and spreading with large, opposite, simple leaves. The bushes can reach head height but are usually about chest high. Beautyberries are often found growing along forest edges or beneath trees in open forests, yards, and fields. In the early summer, American Beautyberry produces clusters of small, pale pink flowers at the nodes below the bases of its leaves. By late summer, these nodes are bursting with rich lavender berries.
American Beautyberry is a hardy native shrub that makes for a great ornamental. Their flowers, while small, do attract a number of pollinators. The vibrant purple fruits remain on the plant for weeks, providing not only a treat for the eye but a treat for many species of birds. Northern Mockingbirds are a particular fan of the berries and a major disperser of their seeds. When crushed, the leaves of the plant release the chemicals callicarpenal and intermedeol, which can act as a mosquito and tick repellent.
