Callicarpa americana is a woody, deciduous, perennial shrub that produces showy purple fruits in the fall. It is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the central and southeastern United States, Bermuda, and Cuba. Beautyberry’s native habitat is open meadows, thickets, woodlands and margins of ponds, ditches and streams. In the spring, green leaves emerge on upright arching stems. The genus name is Greek for beautiful fruit; the species epithet is Latin and means "American."

The shrub prefers full sun to part shade and is intolerant of deep shade. It will grow 3-8 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide in all types of soil provided it has good drainage. Prune in late winter to 1 foot high as the flowers and fruits appear on new shoots. It can be propagated by seeds or stem cuttings.

Clusters of small flowers bloom on the stems during the late spring and early summer. Clusters of purplish to bluish berries develop from August through October and encircle the stem. The fruits may last through early winter. They are a good food source for songbirds and small mammals. The leaves, when crushed, produce a chemical that can repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fire ants.