Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst', commonly known as purple beautyberry, is a member of the Verbenaceae (verbena) plant family originally from Japan and China. This species is known for exquisite clumps of purple berries at each node along the stem in fall. The cultivar 'Early Amethyst' was identified as a seedling in the plant collection at the Tyler Arboretum in Pennsylvania. It blooms several weeks earlier than other beautyberries, which permits gardeners with shorter growing seasons—like Chicago—to enjoy the bright, shiny, purple berries. The genus Callicarpa is derived from the Greek kallos (beauty) and karpos(berry). There are 140 species of subtropical and temperate zone trees and shrubs in this genus. Many of them have ornamental fruit, and some are known to have medicinal properties or are used as fish poison. Birds are attracted to the berries in fall and winter.