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Callicarpa                    Verbenaceae

Beautyberry                    kal-i-KAR-pa

• Over 140 species, generally deciduous or evergreen shrubs, some trees. Leaves opposite, simple. Inflorescence small, axillary, usually a many flowered cyme. Fruit small, often brilliantly colored, globose, usually with 4 seeds. Usually grown for its display of fruit in autumn.


• The following are most often found in cultivation in the US.
• Callicarpa americana    (American Beautyberry, French Mulberry)     (kal-i-KAR-pa a-mer-I-KA-na).
  Deciduous shrub grows rapidly to 3-8 ft wide and 6 ft wide (0.9-2.4 x 1.8 m), with an open habit. Considered the coarsest of the ones mentioned here. Leaves elliptic-ovate to ovate-oblong, 7-15cm long, toothed, softly pubescent above and tomentose below. Pale blue or white flowers appear in spring or early summer in small clusters. Fruit are 5-10 mm across, violet, and borne close to the stem. Zone (6)7. Maryland to North Carolina, Arkansas, south to Mexico, and West Indies.
• Callicarpa bodinieri    (Bodinier Beautyberry)     (kal-i-KAR-pa bo-din-i-ER-i ).
  'Profusion' is a popular cultivar. Deciduous shrub, grows to 6-10 ft (1.8-3 m), leaves are elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 5-12 cm long,acuminate tip, often exhibits a purple cast in fall. Purplish flowers are followed by bright violet-purple fruit (3 mm). Full sun for best heavy fruiting. Zone 6. Species found in Central and Western China.
• Callicarpa dichotoma    (Purple Beautyberry)     (kal-i-KAR-pa di-KOT-o-ma).
  Deciduous shrub, grows 3 to sometime 6 ft high (0.9-1.8 m), with a similar spread, long slender branches, graceful. Leaves are bright green, in one plane, 3-7.5 cm long, about half as wide, acuminate, coarsely serrate except at apex and base. Flowers displayed in clusters above the foliage, followed by lilac-violet fruit, 3-4 mm wide. Zone 5. Eastern and central China, Japan.
• Callicarpa japonica    Japanese Beautyberry    (kal-i-KAR-pa ja-pon-I-ka).
  Deciduous shrub, grows quickly to 4-6 ft high (1.2-1.8 m) and as wide or wider, rounded habit, and arching branches. Leaves elliptic to ovate, 5-12 cm long wide, long acuminate, serrulate, yellowish glands below. Flowers pink or white in mid-summer. Fruit violet to metallic purple, 4 mm across, in loose clusters (cyme). Zone 5. Japan.
• Sun to part shade. Most attractive in late summer and fall.
• OSU campus: Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' is in the Hort. Garden, north side (northwest of Cordley).