American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Lamiaceae (Mint)

Famous for electric-purple berry clusters - edible cooked into jelly, and the crushed leaves repel mosquitoes.

EdibleWild / foragedForagedTexas nativePart shadePollinator

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Part shade

Water

Low

Soil

Tolerant

pH

6.0-7.5

Hardiness

Hardy native shrub

Height

3-6 ft

Spacing

4-6 ft

Days to harvest

Berries fall

What it is

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. Famous for electric-purple berry clusters - edible cooked into jelly, and the crushed leaves repel mosquitoes.

How to grow it

It wants part shade, water it low, and give it tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0-7.5. Space plants about 4-6 ft apart. Expect roughly Berries fall. Hardy native shrub.

How it's used

American Beautyberry is used: berry jelly; leaf as repellent.

🔎 How to identify it

Large soft toothed leaves
Arching stems
Clusters of magenta berries hugging the stem

Edibility

PartsCooked berries

UsesBerry jelly; leaf as repellent

CautionEat berries cooked (jelly); not in quantity raw.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.