Callicarpa

( kal - lik - KARP - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Callicarpa, commonly called Beautyberry, is a deciduous shrub with arching, graceful branches. It needs full sun or light shade and requires regular waterings for best performance in the landscape. Berries attract birds. These shrubs are native to east and southeast Asia, Australia, Madagascar, southeast North America, and South America. Temperate-zone species are deciduous and tropical species are evergreen when cultivated in their native ranges. Grow Beautyberry in wildlife gardens, mixed beds and borders, or as specimens in the landscape for their bright, beautiful berries. Take care when planting these shrubs in the landscape, as their foliage can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

CAllicarpa Species and Varietals

The genus Callicarpa encompasses 140 species, and is included in the family Lamiaceae. Callicarpa gets its name from the Greek words for 'beauty' (callos) and 'fruit' (carpos). Beautyberry growing zones vary by species; for more information refer to the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Callicarpa bodinieri (Bodinier's Beautyberry)
This species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-8 or Sunset growing zones 3-9 and 14-24, and can reach 6 feet tall and wide. Native to China. Leaves are willow-like and turn pink or orange to purple in the fall. The main cultivar of this species is 'Profusion', which reaches up to 10 feet tall and wide at maturity.

Callicarpa dichotoma (Purple Beautyberry, Chinese Beautyberry)
This plant is native to China, Korea and Japan and grows to be around four feet tall and wide. Branches are slender and sweep the ground. Grows in USDA hardiness zones 5-8 or Sunset growing zones 2b, 9 and 14-24. Subspecies Callicarpa dichotoma albifructus has white fruits, and cultivar 'Early Amethyst' is early bloomer with light purple fruits.

Callicarpa japonica (Japanese Beautyberry)
Japanese Beautyberry grows best in USDA hardiness zones 5-8 or Sunset growing zones 2b-9 and 14-24. These shrubs are native to China, Taiwan, and Japan. Individual plants can reach up to five feet tall and just as wide at maturity. Green foliage turns a deep reddish-purple in the fall. Varietal 'Leucocarpa' bears white fruit (pictured).

Caring for callicarpa

Take care when planting these shrubs in the landscape, as their foliage can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.Callicarpa, or Beautyberry, can be purchased as starts from a reputable nursery. They should be planted 5-7 feet apart for best coverage and airflow in spring or fall. Plant your Beautyberry in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. When these flowers are grown in less light, they will not flower as profusely. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are considered somewhat drought tolerant, but appreciate consistent irrigation during active growth, blooming and fruit production seasons. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. If growing Beautyberry shrubs for their fruits, cut plants back hard each year in late winter or early springtime. These shrubs will bloom and produce subsequent fruits only on new wood, so cutting them back will not mean a reduction in fruit production. These long-lived perennial shrubs can live for 15 years or more in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Harvesting Callicarpa
Although the berries are certainly colorful and are attractive to birds, they are not particularly palatable for human consumption. They can, however, be cooked down and sweetened, and are commonly used In jams and other preserves as well as juiced. Some people have allergic reactions to the leaves; it is a best practice to wear gloves and long sleeves while harvesting. The berries should be ready at the beginning of winter, after they have attained their purple color. Simply strip the berries off of the plant at this time and put them in a container. Rinse the berries to remove any dust or debris, and store them in a plastic bag lined with a paper towel in the refrigerator. They will stay good for a few days to up to a week in the fridge.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Beautyberry will readily self-sow; bird and animal activity will spread the seeds, and you can collect and replant these volunteer seedlings. Beautyberry can also be intentionally propagated via cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Callicarpa shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Callicarpa by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In late winter, just before the plant will be waking up from its dormancy, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6-8 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip off all the leaves on the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in cool, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated Beautyberry, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home, either outdoors or inside as a house plant. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage the new shrub.

Propagating Callicarpa by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Collect overripe berries from your plant in the wintertime, and remove the seeds from their berries. Store them in a cool, dry place (the refrigerator is a great spot) over winter. Harvest as many seeds as you can; they will probably not all germinate, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics, especially with hybrid-variety seeds. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want.
In springtime, take your seeds out of their storage spot and prepare your pot or seed tray. Place your seeds on top of the soil and cover them with 1/4 inch of soil. Keep the soil moist but not wet by spraying it with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 14-21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home, either outdoors or inside as a house plant. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.