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. Elegant with its long, arching branches often kissing the ground at their tips in a cascading or weeping effect, Callicarpa dichotoma bears clusters of small, pink to lavender flowers along the stems in summer. Attractive to bees and butterflies, they are abundantly followed by clusters of luminous lilac-violet fruits in late summer, which persist after the leaves have fallen and stand out beautifully. Adding rich color to the landscape, they contrast with the foliage of elliptic green leaves that turn golden-yellow in fall. Easy to grow, Callicarpa dichotoma species is native to China, Korea, and Japan.

• Grows with a dense mounding habit, at a moderate rate, up to 3-4 ft. tall (90-120 cm) and 3-5 ft. wide (90-150 cm).
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in average, medium, well-drained soils. Best flowering and fruit production occurs in full sun. May become leggy in too much shade. Fairly adaptable to different soil types, but fertile soil with good drainage is preferred. Some drought tolerance.
• Winner of the Gold Medal award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and GreatPlants award of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
• Easy to grow and low maintenance, this plant is affected by very few pests and diseases. It is also rarely bothered by deer.
• Mass in mixed shrub borders, containers, and foundation plantings. Perfect also as a specimen plant or deciduous hedge or screen. Best fruit production occurs when these Beautyberry shrubs are planted in groups or massed (better cross-pollination).
• Blooms on new growth. Prune stems back to 6 in. (15 cm) in late winter to early spring to encourage compactness and flowering.
• Callicarpa dichotoma species is invasive in Alabama. As an alternative, use Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry)
• Callicarpa dichotoma species is native to China, Japan, and Korea.