Callicarpa americana L.

American Beauty Berry; French Mulberry

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

French Mulberry is a native deciduous shrub in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). French Mulberry occurs throughout Alabama. It can be found in pine woods, in forest openings, along forest edges, and in disturbed or cut-over woodlands. It is a multi-stemmed shrub reaching 15 feet in height. The stems are green and stellate pubescent when young and gray-brown in color when older. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate to lance-ovate in outline, with serrate margins. The leaves are stellate pubescent on the lower surface and rough to the touch on the upper surface. The leaves are aromatic when crushed and turn yellowish before falling. Flowers are produced in axillary cymes. The small flowers are lavender to pinkish in color and have a corolla that has 5 spreading lobes. The fruit is a 4-seeded drupe that is purple in color. The fruit remain on the stems into the winter months. The crushed leaves of French Mulberry were once placed under the harnesses of horses and mules to repel mosquitoes and biting flies. Hikers, foresters, and others working in the outdoors will often rub the crushed leaves on their necks and faces to repel insects. Research has shown that the leaves contain two compounds—callicarpenal and intermedeol—that act as insect repellants. The fruit of French Mulberry are consumed by small mammals and over 40 species of song birds. French Mulberry is available from many nurseries. It can also be grown from cuttings or seed. It prefers a moist sandy soil in full to partial sun. Older stems should be pruned severely in the winter to maintain the shrubs shape and to encourage fruit production. Fruit are produced only on new growth. A form with white fruit (Callicarpa americana var. lactea) is sometimes available. Human consumption of the fruit of French Mulberry is sporadic. Cases of upset stomach have been reported after people consumed the raw fruit. Others have experienced no ill effect.—A. Diamond

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Native FACU- (NWPL)

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