American beautyberry generally grows 3-5 ' tall & is about as wide as it is tall. It can reach a height of 9' if the soil & moisture are optimum. It has long, loose, gracefully arching branches & can be considered sprawling by some. It bears the most striking glossy pink fruit in clusters that hug the branches at leaf axils. Fruit is borne in the fall & winter & is a favorite of birds; the Northern Bobwhite in particular. White tailed deer are quite fond of munching on the leaves. The leaves begin dropping in the fall, making the berries even more showy. It generally grows as an understory plant. It is found in a vast range of soil types & moisture conditions. American beauty berry is extremely drought tolerant & during periods of prolonged drought it may temporarily lose it's leaves as well as developing fruit in order to survive & arise anew. It can be severely pruned just before new growth begins in spring to encourage a more compact habit.
Native distribution: Va. to Ar., & south to Fl. & east Tx. it also grows in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Cuba & Mexico.
The blooms are white to pink appearing in may, June & July.
The berries are used to make jellies & the roots are used for herbal tea. The leaves & berries contain callicarpenal which has been reportedly proven effective in tests as a mosquito repellent. People have been known to rub the leaves or crushed berries on their skin to ward off the biting insects.
This pink berried variety is a lovely addition to both the purple & the white varieties.
When the berries are at their peak color you can cut a stem with them & put in a vase just as you do flowers. They will last 2-3 full weeks & look lovely!

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