Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: American Beautyberry

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Distribution: North America

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Hardiness: 6a

Life form: Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub

Comments: American beautyberry is a large understory shrub with a naturally loose and arching form. In the fall and early winter, the branches are laden with magenta purple (sometimes white) berry clusters that hang on after the leaves drop. It is useful as a screen in swampy or wooded locations or under shade trees in a garden setting. If desired, it can be cut to 12" above the base each winter to encourage more compact growth, flowers and fruit. During periods of prolonged summer drought, it may temporarily lose its leaves and developing fruit.