Callicarpa americana

american beautyberry, french mulberry, bermuda mulberry, sour bush, bunchberry, filigrana, filigrana de mazorca, filigrana de pinar, foxberry, purple beautyberry, spanish mulberry, turkeyberry
Family

Verbenaceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

crenate, dentate, serrate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

elliptic, lanceolate, ovate

Growth Form

shrub

Flower Color

pink, purple, white

Flower Month

May - December

Height (meters)

1.0 - 3.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial


Wetland Class

FACU

Field Characters

A shrub with clusters of axillary flowers and fruit along the stem. Its leaves are soft, pubescent and aromatic when crushed. Square stem. Teeth along edge of leaves. Hair ball forms when rubbed.

Animal Use

Valuable as a wildlife food plant. Cattle take the leaves after grass matures and browse the twigs during winter.

Habitat

Sandy or rocky woodlands, usually moist and low rich bottomlands, fencerows, and the edges of swamps.