American Beautyberry Shrub (Callicarpa americana): Planting, Growing Tips

You can’t help but fall in love with the ‘Beautyberry,’ which certainly levels up to its name.

It is indeed a beautiful shrub that will make a bold statement when growing in your home. What starts out simple and ordinary shows its true self late in summer when you notice bright purple berries clustered up together that stay on long after the leaves have dropped.

Perhaps the best part about growing the Beautyberry shrub is the tasty fruits that are an absolute favorite for wildlife, birds, and mammals alike. The bush is a perfect addition to your landscaping.

This full guide explains how to identify the American Beautyberry shrub (Callicarpa americana), and outlines planting and growing tips to ensure that yours flourishes.

Growing a Beautyberry From a Seed, Cutting, or Seedling

Do you want to grow a tree or shrub all on your own?

If you are eyeing the Callicarpa americana, here is how to plant one from scratch.⁶

From a Seed

Pick the seeds from the berries, clean them, then soak them for a day. You can start them indoors, digging them 1/16 inches deep in trays filled with potting mix.

Make sure that you place the container in a well-lit, warm, sunny spot and regularly mist using a spray bottle until you see the seedlings peaking out. It should be safe to transplant in three months.

From Seedling

If you find it tedious to plant from the seeds, you can opt for seedlings. Just find the perfect spot outdoors where there is sunlight, and the soil is well draining and transplant when the danger of frost has passed.

From Cuttings

The cheapest and most convenient way to go is to plant using cuttings. All you need is a 6-inch long stem with the lower leaves removed.

Dip the end in rooting hormone and plant it, covering it with a clear plastic bag and placing it in indirect light. Keep the soil potting mix moist, and you should soon see root development, indicating that it is time for transplanting.¹

Best Growing Conditions for Beautyberry

It is pretty easy to see a Beautyberry that is well taken care of. If you want nothing but seamlessness when looking after your shrub, here are some factors to keep in mind.

Water

Watering a tree is non-negotiable unless you are xeriscaping. As for the watering needs for Beautyberry plants, you will appreciate the fact that the shrubs are able to endure dry conditions.

All in all, an inch of watering in a week will do, but you can adjust accordingly if there is rainfall or during the scorching summers.

Sunlight

How much sunlight does Beautyberry need each day? The last thing you want is to affect the growth of flowers and berries by growing your shrub in a fully shaded spot.

Typically, the bush needs at least 2 hours of direct sunlight each and every day, so you can grow it even under partial shade. But remember that the more sun exposure, the higher the berry production.

Soil

You are good to go if the soil in your region is slightly acidic or neutral, rich in organic matter, and with excellent drainage. You may have to add a little fertilizer if your soil is lacking in nutrients, but not too much, or else the production of berries will reduce; one or two shovels should be enough.⁷

Planting Tips for Beautyberry Bush

It helps that the shrub is not that demanding and generally easy to grow, but the following are additional planting tips for Beautyberry that you might find helpful.

• When To Plant Beautyberry for the Best Yield?

For the best results, the best time to plant the Beautyberry is either in fall or spring.³ This way, you will be certain that there is no danger of frost, so your plant has more than enough time to grow and establish itself.

• How Far Apart To Plant Beautyberry?

Considering the fact that the Beautyberry is one shrub that grows wild, reaching 3-6 feet wide, it is best to plant them 5-7 feet apart or more based on your needs and, of course, the cultivar you choose.

Ideal Beautyberry Growing Zone

The planting zones for the Beautyberry varieties vary depending on where they come from. For instance, the Asian breed is more tolerant of the cold, so it works for regions that experience colder winters.

But, on the other hand, for the American Beautyberry, the growing zones for Beautyberry (where to grow it for the perfect yield) are in USDA zones 6-10, which means that it is best for regions that are a little bit warmer.

Beautyberry Growth Rate: How Fast Does the Beautyberry Grow?

You have to consider how long does it take for a tree to grow because it will practically influence your decision, depending on your needs. In perspective, if you are planning to grow a shrub as a hedge or privacy screen, you have to check how long it takes to grow Beautyberry.

(Photo by David J. Stang⁹)

You are in luck because the shrub is one of the fastest growers, achieving 1-2 feet in height in just a single year.

Companion Plants for Growing Beautyberry

It is a form of art to know how to pair up landscaping trees for the best looks and functionality. You can do the same with your Beautyberry to add color to your garden and also improve the health of the shrub.⁴

The best companions that will get the job done and they include the coneflowers, coreopsis, butterfly weed, hibiscus, spicebush, goldenrod, Tatarian aster, fothergilla, and many other colorful shrubs as far as your creativity can go.

Common Problems of the American Beautyberry

The Beautyberry is undeniably stunning, and you have to do all that you can to keep yours that way. There is one challenge, though, the danger of pests and diseases that not only ruin its aesthetics but also, in extreme cases, endanger its life.⁸

Pests of the American Beautyberry

Luckily, this is one shrub that is very vulnerable to pests. In fact, it is known to be an effective insect repellent because many pests hate the smell and taste of the plant parts.

However, the common pests of the Beautyberry include caterpillars and aphids, which feast on the plant’s leaves and cause chlorosis, interfere with photosynthesis, and lead to premature leaf fall.

Pest Control for the Beautyberry

In the rare case that you do identify that your shrub has been attacked by pests, the very first option is to deploy natural pest control for Beautyberry. Using chemical methods like insecticides may come to mind, but gardeners worry that they are not safe for their plants or the environment.

Perhaps you can try handpicking or manual removal for the larger pests, or if not, use insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Common Diseases of the Beautyberry

One of the many perks of planting a Beautyberry is the fact that you don’t really have to worry about diseases, at least not like other plants. But still, you have to be on the lookout for infections like leaf spots and black mold.

Unfortunately, these ones are the common ones known to attack the Beautyberry leaves and other parts of the plant, and they leave behind gnarly wounds or, in severe cases, could be the end of your plant’s life.

How To Stop Beautyberry Disease

The last thing that you want is to deal with fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. They are every gardener’s worst nightmare because they are a pain to deal with and, most importantly, the leading cause of the death of plants.

This explains why Beautyberry disease prevention should always be on your mind; that way, you wouldn’t even have to deal with the diseases.

The most important thing is to make sure that your plant has got everything that it needs, it is well watered, planted in rich, well-draining soil, and on a sunny spot.

In the event that you see signs of an infection, maybe on the leaves or branches, the most important step is to chop off the affected parts and later dispose of them before the diseases get out of hand and kill the entire plant.