As summer fades into autumn, many trees undergo a colorful transformation. Vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow leaves capture our attention. But some trees also reveal surprise pops of purple when their berries ripen in fall. These eye-catching purple fruits add an unexpected beauty to the landscape.
Why Do Some Tree Berries Turn Purple?
A tree’s leaves and berries contain pigments that give them their characteristic colors. The main pigments responsible for purple hues are anthocyanins These natural plant compounds help protect leaves from sun damage They also act as antioxidants and aid photosynthesis.
As sunlight intensity and temperatures drop in fall anthocyanin production increases in certain trees. This leads to the development of vivid reddish-blue and purple berries. The anthocyanins also attract birds and other wildlife that eat the fruits and disperse the seeds. So the colorful berries serve an important ecological purpose.
Trees With Stunning Purple Berries
Many tree species bear purple fruits in autumn. Here are some of the most striking:
Callicarpa – Beautyberry
Callicarpa is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the Lamiaceae family. The best-known species in North America is the American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). It is native to the southeastern U.S.
The beautyberry produces abundant clusters of tiny lilac-purple fruits along its arching branches in fall. These bright berry clusters remain on the bare branches well into winter, providing continued color.
Prunus – Chokecherry
Chokecherries belong to the Prunus genus of trees and shrubs in the Rosaceae family. The common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is native to North America.
The chokecherry tree gets its name from the sour, astringent taste of its reddish-purple cherry fruits. Birds, however, relish these berries that ripen in late summer.
Ilex – Hollies
This genus contains over 400 species of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Many holly species produce glossy purple fruits. These include the American holly (Ilex opaca) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium).
Hollies are dioecious, meaning trees are either male or female. Only female trees produce the colorful berries that remain on the trees into winter.
Ligustrum – Privet
Privet is a common hedge plant, but some species can grow into trees. The European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) produces panicles of small black berries that often take on a deep purple hue. These ripening fruits are toxic to humans but eaten by birds.
Morus – Mulberries
The mulberry is a fast-growing deciduous tree. The fruit of the black mulberry (Morus nigra) and American mulberry (Morus rubra) turn from red to dark purple when ripe in late summer. These sweet mulberries are relished by humans and wildlife alike.
Nyssa – Sourgum
The sourgum tree (Nyssa sylvatica) displays a stunning show of scarlet, orange, and purple fall foliage. After the leaves drop, the sourgum’s blue-black fruits remain on drooping stalks, contrasting with the tree’s gray bark.
Vaccinium – Blueberries
While most blueberry species are shrubs, the sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) can grow into a small tree up to 30 feet tall. This native tree produces sweet edible blueberries that ripen to a deep purple-black in fall.
Growing Trees With Purple Berries
Many purple-berried trees thrive with minimal care. Consider adding some to your landscape for three seasons of interest – flowers in spring, lush foliage in summer, and abundant jewel-toned fruits in fall and winter.
Most berry-producing trees grow in full sun to partial shade. They require well-drained soil and benefit from moderate irrigation and an annual top dressing of compost. Prune to shape the trees and improve air circulation and light penetration.
Try combining purple-berried trees with evergreens like spruce and fir for an enchanting winter woodland effect. The contrast of vivid fruit and deep green foliage is stunning.
So keep an eye out for purple berries brightening autumn trees. Let these beautiful fruits inspire new planting combinations in your own garden.
Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Issai’: Purple Beautyberry
This is the most graceful version of Beautyberry. Flowers are lavender & bloom in July-September. Thin papery leaves are narrow & turn gold and purple before dropping. Berries are smaller than Profusion but have the same bright purple color. Branches are flexible and the shape is fountain-like.
Grows 5-6 tall & wide, sun, Z5, -20f
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Callicarpa (cal-i-CAR-puh) – In Greek kallos means beauty, carpos means fruit.
Common: Beautyberry
Origin: Native to tropics and subtropics from Asia, Australia, North & Central America. Characteristics: Small white, red or purple flowers in clusters followed by round brightly colored berries.
Green leaves are opposite, sometimes hairy and turn gold & purple before falling in autumn.
Size: In their native habitats, some Callicarpa can grow to be trees. The varieties that grow in Portland stay considerably smaller, growing to between 4-10 tall & 4-10 wide depending on the variety.
Culture: Plant in full sun for optimum fruit production & fall color – part shade is okay but it will inhibit berry production. Grows best in well-drained soil.
Problems: Mostly trouble free with the possibility of minor leaf spot. Callicarpa can get rangy over time – rejuvenate by pruning low to the ground in late winter (like you do your roses). Flowers are produced on new growth, so you wont miss out on winter berries.
Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’: Profusion Beautyberry
This is the most popular version of Beautyberry. Flowers are lavender & bloom in July-August, leaves are matte green with a purple tinge & turn gold before dropping in autumn to reveal bright purple berries. Berries persist on stiff bare branches well into winter.
Grows 6-10 tall, 4-6 wide – sun, Z6, -10f
BeautyBerry Shrubs With Purple Berries, Great Fall Colors and Low Maintenance Plants.
FAQ
What tree has purple berries in the fall?
Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Issai’ (Purple Beautyberry)
Celebrated for its abundant berries and precocious fruiting, ‘Issai’ Callicarpa dichotoma, or Purple Beautyberry, is a compact, rounded, deciduous shrub known for its stunning purple berries that persist from early fall to late fall.
Are beautyberry berries edible?
The fruits are edible to humans, but have an astringent quality and not much flavor, making them somewhat unpalatable raw. Beautyberry jelly, however, is quite tasty. The leaves contain a chemical (callicarpenal) that may repel mosquitoes.
Is beautyberry an invasive plant?
Beautyberry shrubs readily reseed largely due to bird and animal activity, which raises the possibility that it could become invasive. If that is a concern, the best approach is to grow only the native C. americana species.
What are the purple berries in the winter?
Callicarpa dichotoma (Purple Beautyberry) One of the best ornamental fruiting shrubs, Callicarpa dichotoma (Purple Beautyberry) is a small, compact, rounded, deciduous shrub primarily grown for its eye-catching display of purple berries from late summer through winter.