American Beautyberry

The American Beautyberry is a remarkable deciduous shrub with the most extraordinary berries in fall. These encircle the stem in rings, and they are glossy and a vibrant shade of violet. They form on new stems, so even if there is some winter injury you still get a good crop. This open, spreading bush can reach about 6 feet tall and wide, or it can be pruned to keep it closer to 3 feet. Grow it at the back of shrub beds, along paths in wooded areas, by water and in every garden of native plants.

• Incredible fall display of violet berries clustered on the stems
• Forms an open bush to around 6 feet tall and wide
• Valuable source of food for native birds
• Flowers on new stems so can take winter injury
• A North American native plant

Full sun will produce the most berries on the American Beautyberry, but it tolerates partial shade well. Grow it in moist soils, both sands and clays, although established plants have some drought tolerance. It doesn’t have any pests or diseases but it is not deer resistant. To encourage lots of new shoots and berries, prune hard in spring, cutting back to a framework about 2 feet smaller than you want the final bush to be each year.