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Callicarpa japonica

 
Callicarpa japonica
Japanese beautyberry
Flowers in late June

Common name Japanese beautyberry
Family lamiaceae
Life cycle shrub (Z5-8)
Flowers white/pink (early summer)
Size 4-6'
Light sun-part shade
From seed germinate at room temperature
detailed seed-starting info below

Through most of the growing season, this is just a green shrub; it leafs out earlier than some other callicarpas, and is useful enough where a mound of green is required. Since its flowers, although charming, are not showy from a distance, we have to wait till autumn to appreciate the true splendor of the beautyberry - the abundant clusters of bright purple berries. This is the most vigorous of several callicarpas we've grown – ours is planted next the the front door step, and needs regular pruning through the growing season to keep its branches under control. But the reward is worth it: when the weather turns a bit colder, and we venture into the wider garden less frequently, we can still appreciate the berry bounty every time we walk in the door!

Callicarpa japonica
View of the green immature berries, as observed in late July.
Japanese beautyberry

We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston.

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

One or more images of this plant are included in my stock photo catalog

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from '06/'07 HPS/MAG exchange. Crushed dry berries to collect tan disc-shaped seeds. Baggy 70F (40%G, 18-40d). Replaced filter, which had turned brown, after 9d
  2. Seed from '09 garden, berries not quite dry. Baggy with whole berries in filter, 70F (26d); cleaned pulp off, new filter (several G, 5-15d)

Easiest is to dry berries to where they can be easily crushed to separate the seeds.


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Last modified: March 13, 2010
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