Callicarpa americana
American beautyberry, French mulberry
Notes:
Leaves repel mosquitoes, at least when crushed. Bloom on new wood. Can be treated as cutback perennials.
Not actually recommended north of Sunset zone 32 or USDA zone 7 without protection, but Toadshade in Frenchtown sells plants from a local population that is in fact hardy here.
Despite being native, beautyberry is listed by Doug Tallamy as supporting only one species of butterfly/moth larvae, while the National Wildlife Federation lists two.
Sources: Sunset, Dove/Woolridge, UFL, NCSU, JerseyYards.org, Odenwald/Turner, USDA.
Tags:
acidic soil preferred
alkaline soil intolerant
aromatic foliage
attracts:bees
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:butterflies
attracts:mammals
clay tolerant
coarse texture
compacted soil intolerant
drought tolerant
easy to grow
exposure:full sun
exposure:part shade
fall color notable
fast-growing
fire risk low
form:multi-trunked
form:perennial (herbaceous)
form:shrub
habit:arching
habit:irregular
habit:mounding
habit:rounded
habit:spreading/wide
habit:vase
infertile soil tolerant
native:eastern North America
open canopy
part shade preferred
persistence:deciduous
pest/disease free
pruning required
rich soil preferred
roots:low damage potential
salt intolerant
sandy soil tolerant
short-lived
showy flowers
type:broadleaf
use:border
use:container
use:foundation
use:mass planting
use:naturalizing
use:screen
use:specimen
water:moderate to little
water:regular
weedy
wet soil tolerant
wind sensitive
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