Heavy Beauty Berry

Heavy Beauty Berry or Callicarpa japonica,

is a deciduous shrub that produces large purple berries that birds love to eat.  Unlike the American Beauty Berry, it is not native to Alabama and is considered invasive.  Birds will pick the seed and after digesting them they will spread the seeds in different areas causing the plant to spread easily.  While producing lager berries there are fewer than the American Beauty Berry.  The berries ripen late summer into the fall.  The shrub grows 4-6ft high and 4-6ft wide.  Grows in full sun to part shade.  Gardeners often prune it back to 6in in the late winter or early spring every year.  It is useful for bird gardens and other fall plants.  It is shipped in 1-gallon containers.