Overview

Callicarpa is a bushy shrubs in the genus Callicarpa, part of the Lamiaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Callicarpa grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, low maintenance, cut flowers and flower borders and beds. It is native to Alabama, Andaman Is., Arkansas, Assam, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Christmas I., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Florida, Georgia, Guatemala, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Kazan-retto, Kentucky, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, Manchuria, Marianas, Maryland, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, New South Wales, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., North Carolina, Northern Territory, Ogasawara-shoto, Oklahoma, Pakistan, Panamá, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Solomon Is., South Carolina, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virginia, West Himalaya and Western Australia.

About

Callicarpa is a deciduous, well-branched shrub in the Lamiaceae grown for its clusters of small flowers and persistent berries. It flowers from August to October, producing white to pink or light purple blooms. The fruit form highly conspicuous clusters that remain on bare stems into winter. It suits full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sand in sheltered positions.

About the genus

Callicarpa (beautyberry) Commonly known as beautyberry, is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Lamiaceae. They are native to east and southeast Asia, Australia, Madagascar, south-eastern North America and South America.

Wikipedia contributors, "Callicarpa", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Callicarpa

In the garden

Callicarpa (beautyberry) is a genus of shrubs in the Lamiaceae native across parts of Asia, Australasia, the Americas and various island groups. Temperate species are deciduous and bear small, clustered flowers in late summer and early autumn; flowering occurs August to October and is followed by the distinctive berries. Plant in a sunny or partly shaded spot on well-drained soil — it will tolerate chalk, clay, loam or sand and a range of pH from acid to alkaline. Give a sheltered, east-, south- or west-facing position where possible. In UK terms it is rated H6, meaning it is very hardy and will withstand typical winter conditions when sited out of exposed, windy positions. Use Callicarpa in cottage and informal gardens, flower borders and beds, or for cutting stems for arrangements where late-season interest is needed. Leaves are deciduous, so the berry clusters become most visible after leaf fall; the persistent, metallic-lustre fruit provides a reliable source of autumn and winter structure in the shrub border.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Callicarpa

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

East-facing, South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Callicarpa size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Shrubs

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Low Maintenance, Cut flowers, Flower borders and beds

Native to

Alabama, Andaman Is., Arkansas, Assam, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Christmas I., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Florida, Georgia, Guatemala, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Kazan-retto, Kentucky, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Louisiana, Madagascar, Malaya, Maluku, Manchuria, Marianas, Maryland, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Guinea, New South Wales, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., North Carolina, Northern Territory, Ogasawara-shoto, Oklahoma, Pakistan, Panamá, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Solomon Is., South Carolina, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virginia, West Himalaya, Western Australia

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Callicarpa

Propagation

Seed, Softwood cuttings in spring, Semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

Frequently asked questions