North Central Chapter

NICE Fall 2025 Plant of the Season

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): Shrub for partial shade

Description: American Beautyberry is an interesting and beautiful ornamental shrub, suitable for a shade or sun garden. The most striking feature of this shrub is its clusters of berries, which turn purple in the fall. White-berried varieties are also available. American Beautyberry is a perennial shrub that typically grows to a height of 6 feet. Some specimens can reach 9 feet or more. During the winter, the plants will go dormant. In mid-spring, the light green leaves emerge from the bare branches of the shrubs that have overwintered. The large leaves have serrated edges. By mid-May and continuing to July, clusters of small white to light-pink flowers bloom on the plant.

To learn more, view American Beautyberry: plant information sheet

About the Region

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This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason