ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Pearl Glam ® beautyberry . pic by : Proven success
A flora with the audaciousness to bear the name beautyberry better deliver on the promise — and beautyberry does n’t let down . start out in spring as a rather unassuming shrub , it begins to realize its praise in tardy summer , when other plants are melt . Abundant clusters of fruit mature into striking purple berries that brook out boldly against the warmer colour look typical of the time of year . Those colorful berries persist well after the leaves fall , decorating the bare outgrowth like shiny royal gem .
For gardeners looking for a more muted ornamental bush for the crepuscule garden , there are also adorable beautyberry cultivars with white or light pinkish fruit . No matter your preference , few fruit - bearing shrubs can contend with beautyberries when they are at their bloom of color . The sight of those showy Charles Edward Berry strung along the shrub ’s elegant arching branches are one of the most unexpected pleasure of the season .
On this varlet : Basics|Types|Growing Guide|Care and Maintenance|Beautyberry Pictures|Garden Uses
THE BASICS
Botanical name:
Callicarpa , derived from a combination of the Greek wordscallos(beautiful ) andcarpos(fruit ) .
Plant Type:
Deciduous shrub
Hardiness:
Varies reckon on the species , ranging zone 5 to 9
Height:
3 to 8 feet
Bloom time:
Beautyberries blossom in bunch at almost every leaf node in later leaping to midsummer . Although attractive , the flyspeck pink or white flowers often go unnoticed because they are obscured by the foliage .
Fruit duration:
The berries ( which are actuallydrupes , or one - sow yield ) set out grow in tardy August and rest on the plant up to six weeks or longer after the leaves fall .
Is the fruit edible?
Yes , the berries are nontoxic to animals as well as humans . They are also on the carte du jour of more than 40 species of songbirds . Despite being edible , beautyberries are n’t very palatable when eaten raw because they tend to be blistering . However , they can be cooked and edulcorate to make jelly or sauce .
TYPES OF BEAUTYBERRY
There are approximately 140 species , but four in particular — one native to southeastern North America and three of Asian origin — are commonly used as cosmetic garden shrub .
American beautyberry ( Callicarpa americana ) . exposure by : Studio Barcelona / Shutterstock
American beautyberry : Callicarpa americanais one of the showiest beautyberries because of its especially large magenta - purple Berry that wrap tightly around the branch like beaded bracelets . This is also the largest of the beautyberries , reaching 6 to 8 feet tall with an equal spreading . Native to the Southeast — from Maryland to Florida and Cicily Isabel Fairfield through Texas — it grows best in climate with mild winters and hot , humid summer ( zone 6 - 10 ) .
Asian beautyberry : The three Asian species , Callicarpa japonicafrom Japan , Callicarpa bodinierifrom China , andCallicarpa dichotoma , from Japan , China , and Korea , are more cold tolerant ( Zones 5 - 8) than their American cousin . Other distinguishing features include a more arching or crying variety and smaller berries that hang from the branches in grape vine - corresponding gang . Of the three , C. dichotomais the small , reaching only 3 to 4 ft with a standardised bed covering . preeminence : C. dichotomahas been declared invasive in the South and easterly U.S.Learn more about where this flora is invasive .
All of these species have a number of white- and purple - fruited cultivar . But if you ’re looking for something unique , tryC. americana’Welch ’s Pink ' ( a pink - fruited variety),C. dichotoma‘Duet ’ ( blank berry and variegated foliage ) , and Pearl Glam ® , a new loanblend with dark purple leaves .
GROWING GUIDE
Soil:
Beautyberries prefer moist grease full-bodied in organic matter . They are n’t particular about soil case , but good drainage is a must .
Light requirements:
Grow in full sun or light shade ; but for optimum Charles Edward Berry production , a sunny location is best .
When to plant:
outflow or fall .
Spacing:
When planting beautyberry , give it plenty of room to straggle . The weight of the berries often have the bush ’s flexible branches to bend , which can shade off or crowd nearby plantings . As a worldwide rule of thumb , space plants about 5 to 7 feet asunder .
Propagation:
Beautyberry pronto self - sows in the garden but can also be propagated from softwood cut . Although beautyberry is ego - pollinating , some mintage ( such asC. americana ) have a effective hazard for crisscross - pollenation when plant in grouping , which may lead in gamey yield yields .
Is beautyberry invasive:
As mentioned , beautyberry will pronto ego - sow . Check with local expert to see if this poses a menace where you live , or instruct beautyberry may be consider invading .
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Water requirements:
Although established beautyberries can tolerate some drought , under extreme conditions they may send away their leave and berries to correct for the lack of wet . For the best performance , be certain to keep coherent soil moisture , afford your bush about an in of water per calendar week during prolonged juiceless piece .
Fertilizing:
Do n’t bother . Applying too much fertilizer , especially types that are high in nitrogen , will promote leaf growth but at the expense of fewer flowers and berry .
Pruning:
Although beautyberry shrubs do n’t have to be pruned to produce fruit twelvemonth after year , you ’ll get a more robust berry presentation by cutting them back in late wintertime or early saltation while they are still dormant . Because beautyberry bloom on new wood , a hard pruning to just several inches above the ground wo n’t affect prime output and will keep plants looking dense and full .
Problems:
Once launch , beautyberry requires very little maintenance , except for occasional pruning . They resist most foliar diseases and pests . In colder develop zona , your plants may experience some dieback in winter , but they will often resprout from the ground in springiness and produce yield that same year .
BEAUTYBERRY PICTURES
photograph : Proven Winners
Pearl Glam ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersCallicarpahybrid
Zones:
5 to 8
4 to 5 feet
Spread:
3 to 4 feet
Do n’t just plant beautyberry for its colorful fall fruit . This gorgeous cross displays purple - tinct leaf from spring until frost , providing involvement all season . In late summer , the dark leaf are enhanced by white bloom that generate dim clusters of purplish - purple berries . Unlike ceremonious beautyberries that incline to straggle , this one has an good riding habit that requires less elbowroom .
Photo by Sandy Pruden / Millette Photomedia
' Early Amethyst’Callicarpa dichotoma
As the name suggests , this variety bloom of youth and define yield several weeks earlier than other beautyberries , which permits gardeners with shorter growing time of year to revel the brilliant amethyst - colored Chuck Berry long before wintertime arrives . Although small ( only about 1/8 - inch in diameter ) , the deep purplish berries are abundant and darker than those of other cultivars . They put on their best show in October , when the green foliage turns gold and sets off their rich jewel - toned color .
Photo by : Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock
‘ Profusion’Callicarpa bodinierivar.giraldi
6 to 8
4 to 6 feet
Laden with clusters of violet - purple berries from August to November , this Dutch - bred pick is specially famed for its grievous fruit output and semblance - convert foliage , which emerges bronze purple in spring , turn dark green in summer , and deepens to a golden regal chromaticity in autumn ( pictured ) . ‘ Profusion ’ was the top performing artist in an 8 - year run of beautyberries deal by Pennsylvania’sLongwood Gardens , lauded for its persistent and spectacular fruit presentation .
Photo by : Marietta Paternoster Garr / Millette Photomedia
' Duet’Callicarpa dichotomaf.albifructa
5 to 6 feet
Notable for being the first callicarpa cultivar with variegated foliation , this white - berry variety has unripened leaves with creamy clean security deposit that remain attractive throughout the farm time of year and set off the clusters of glossy white fruit when they reach their elevation . Also tryC. japonica‘Snow Storm ’ , a new purple - fruited variety with variegated foliation that emerge livid in natural spring and becomes more specked with green as it ripen . The white and green color scheme is raise by violet - colored foliage stem and plaza veins .
Photo by : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia
Callicarpa dichotoma’Issai '
This showy cultivar sets itself apart from its kin by remain more succinct , fruit more hard , and producing fruit on untried plant that are only a year old . An copiousness of vivacious purplish - blue berry compensate the bush from September to October , causing the branches to arch to the primer coat under the weight of the freehanded yield . From early to midsummer , tiny pink trump - shaped flowers peak out from the emerald - green foliage .
exposure by : Bob Mayer / The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
Callicarpa japonica’Leucocarpa '
consider to be one of the most fecund white - fruiting beautyberries , ‘ Leucocarpa ’ produces piddling clusters of pearl - white berries at the stem of every folio guest , causing the branches to accede graciously into a lovely umbrella shape . pallid pink flowers in summertime demarcation beautifully with the plant life ’s dark green foliage , which turns shade of pallid yellowness and bronze in autumn .
Photo by : Camellia Forest Nursery
Callicarpa americana’Welch ’s Pink '
6 to 10
3 to 5 feet
Thought to be the materialisation of a purple and ashen - fruit callicarpa , this blush - pinkish version possesses a insidious charm that work particularly well in cottage garden options . It ’s also more thickset than the distinctive American beautyberry , create it a good selection to gather into smaller gardens . Even though it ’s a hybrid , ' Welch ’s Pink ' produce seedlings that remain dependable to type and will also yield pinkish fruit .
GARDEN USES
Beautyberries make good option for :
