Matt Welch found this naturally occurring pink-fruited form of Callicarpa americana in east Texas, and the seeds breed true to color, which is not the case for most pink beautyberry selections. That reliability matters: in September, when the berries arrive in dense, bracelet-like clusters along each stem, 'Welch's Pink' delivers a warm, rosy show that holds consistently from plant to plant. The color sits somewhere between candy and coral, a gentler counterpoint to the vivid violet of the species, and it weaves beautifully among late-season grasses and golden foliage in mixed borders. Birds will eventually strip the berries, but not in a hurry, so the display often lasts well into winter.

Growing 4 to 6 feet tall and equally wide, 'Welch's Pink' is a touch more compact than the straight species and accommodates a wider range of conditions, tolerating both dry spells and wet soils, full sun and partial shade. Prune it back to 1 to 2 feet in late winter once the berries are gone — it blooms and fruits on new wood, so this hard cutback encourages a fuller, bushier plant and a heavier berry set by fall. Plant it in groups or drifts alongside the native species to extend the visual conversation between pink and purple, and to improve cross-pollination across both.