American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Deciduous North American shrub

Produces clusters of showy, bright purple berries in the fall, which persist throughout the winter

Origin: Southeastern United States

This unusual shrub is native from southwestern Maryland to North Carolina, Arkansas, and south to Mexico. While Jefferson resided in Paris during the 1780s, his close friend Madame de Tessé requested that he arrange for plants to be sent for her estate at Chaville. Jefferson, in turn, wrote his friend John Banister, Jr., for two plants. Jefferson also included Beautyberry on a list of "shrubs not exceeding 10 f [eet] in height" for Monticello in 1771.

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) arrives in a 1 gallon pot.