American Beautyberry

Visitors to New Quarter Park near Williamsburg, Virginia, are fascinated by the purple berries that they see everywhere in the park and the staff fields many questions when American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) comes into fruit in the York County park. Because the park land has been relatively little used, the understory shrubs have had time to establish themselves and grow to their maximum height and fullness. Because American Beautyberry is not as familiar, many people at first think that the plant is an elderberry, but that plant’s berries are darker in color and grow in bunches.

Are the Purple Berries of the American Beautyberry Edible?

While the berries are edible though not particularly tasty to us, they provide a feast for birds that stop at the park to refuel on their migratory journey along the Atlantic coast. In an attractive wildlife habitat such as New Quarter Park, year-round inhabitants like mockingbirds, robins, opossums, deer, raccoons, and others also eat the berries.

Description of American Beautyberry

The American Beautyberry is a deciduous shrub that grows on average to 6 feet in height, though the New Quarter Park trees are 10 to 12 feet high and wide in places! Fruit starts to form soon after the appearance of hundreds of delicate violet blossoms in the spring. By July or August, these blooms develop into clusters of berries that last until November. Colors range from violet to a deep purple and the berries have an almost metallic appearance. There is also a more rare white variety. The leaves have a soft, fuzzy texture.

The perennial shrub is native to the southeastern United States. The plant does best in a moist, enriched, well-drained soil, but is really not particular and will grow most anywhere out of direct sunlight, even with neglect. It is a fast vigorous grower, usually with multiple stems arising from the ground. The shrubs are adapted to climates with hot, humid summers and moderate winters, which makes Tidewater, Virginia, an especially suitable place for them to thrive. The general attractiveness of the American Beautyberry’s flowers and berries make it popular for landscaping too.

Uses of the American Beautyberry by Humans

In addition to providing habitat for wildlife, American Beautyberry has been useful to people. The roots, leaves and branches of the American beautyberry were used by Native American tribes for various medicinal purposes.

The New Quarter Park staff has discovered that a few leaves crumbled and worn behind the ear act as a natural insect repellent, especially to slow and repel the particularly pesky flies that buzz around and around the head in May and June.

See Beautyberries!

If planning to visit Colonial Williamsburg to see the Christmas decorations, plan to take a side trip to New Quarter Park, just 3 miles away, to hike the trails to see all of the natural holiday decorations on American Beautyberry as well as American Holly and Partridgeberry. The park’s forest are also full of Christmas Ferns.