Black beautyberry is a dark beauty
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is one of my favorite native shrubs for fall color, and I have two under the live oaks in my back garden that are loaded with bright purple berries. But sometimes you just need a little more drama, and black beautyberry (Callicarpa acuminata), also known as Mexican beautyberry, may be just the ticket.
I first saw it, in all its goth beauty (pictured above), at San Antonio Botanical Gardens in 2009.
Three years later I spotted one on tour at the Phillips Garden. Now I was on the hunt.
A week or so ago I was browsing at Green ‘n Growing nursery in Pflugerville (you know how that browsing goes), and to my delight they had 3 or 4 large black beautyberries for sale. I snapped one up and placed it in the shade next to one of the American beautyberries until the masons were finished building the walls. You can see how much darker the leaves and berries are on the black beautyberry (on the left), compared to the American beautyberry on the right.
I planted it in the lower garden on Friday, next to the new limestone steps. The berries look brighter in this picture, but they’re more of a wine-red purple than the American’s berries.
I hope to enjoy them a little longer before the mockingbirds find them.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love beautyberries and planted my first two plants this year. They are pretty small and didn’t come with any berries for the mockingbirds to steal, at least this year. That Mexican beautyberry is really stunning – I love the dark wine-purple berry color. I thought I read that the Mexican beatyberry requires a bit more sun than the American variety. Do you know if that is the case – or will it thrive just as well under large shade trees?
I will know by next fall, Rebecca. I’ve just planted mine under a good deal of shade. —Pam
I hope you get to enjoy the berries a little longer, too. They are stunning. Alas, in my garden the berries are already gone. I suppose it is only fair since the mocking bird planted them. Maybe he wouldn’t like the darker berries.
The mockingbirds don’t seem to have discovered mine just yet. Both types of beautyberries still have a full load. —Pam
I have never seen a black beautyberry. Love it. I bet it looks great by the limestone.
It does, Lisa. Dark drama for a shady corner. —Pam
Good find! That darker wine colored berry is gorgeous. I’ll be interested to hear if the mocking birds like the more southern variety of berries (I’m betting they will).
In a way I’m sorry you moved the acuminata away from the americana though. The contrast in leaf and berry colors is striking in juxtaposition. Now if there was only a light leafed beauty berry with those darker wine berries as well as those lighter purple berries featured against darker leaves… Bees? You’ve got your orders. Get to work!
I too think the mockingbirds will find these berries just as tasty, Deb. And yes — go, bees, go! —Pam
Hmm. Mine is labeled American Beautyberry but looks a lot more like this one. They were very bright when they originally turned, but have not stayed that way. And the leaves are darker. I hope they do as well in the shade as the Americans, as that’s where mine’s going!
We’ll just keep experimenting, won’t we, Kate? —Pam
This is a beauty! But sadly, it’s not hardy to my zone here in Ohio. 🙁 My American beautyberry is looking stunningly gorgeous this fall though!
Happily there are beautyberries for all parts of the U.S., right? Enjoy those purple berries! —Pam
Wow, interesting! Do you know if it gets big like americana or is it supposed to stay smaller? I like it.
It seems to be about the same size as the americana, Jean, according to Texas grower Greenleaf. —Pam