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Callicarpa japonica |
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| | 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
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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!
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| | View of the green immature berries, as observed in late July. |
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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 About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Callicarpa japonica
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Candy Greene | Sep 05, 2009 | Can the beautyberry be planted in the fall in zone 5?
Zone 5 is the bottom end of the hardiness range according to two reputable online sources. This species is certainly hardier than its American cousin, Callicarpa americana. |
| Sue MacLellan | Oct 14, 2009 | I just saw this shrub for the first time this week. It was growing well and had a gorgeous display of bright purple berries. I had to pull over and look at it. I also grabbed a small piece to take home to show my family. It was doing well in a west facing corner in Roslindale Massachusetts (Boston). Knowing the neighborhood, I suspect this plant is in full sun for at least 4 hours daily. I have read that you can root this plant so I intend to try. I will keep you informed of the progress. I certainly want to purchase one for the spring planting season. |
| Rose Anderson | Oct 14, 2012 | I purchased this plant in Mendocino which is near the coast in California.
I live South of Sacramento, CA which is zone 9. Will my plant survive the
winter. It gets down to 25 degrees.
Thank you
The winter cold is no problem at all – this plant survives consistently in our zone-6 garden, with temperatures down to 0 degrees many years. I don't know how well it will handle the other aspects of your climate (hot dry summers). |
- 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
- 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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