Callicarpa | Heijnen Plants

Callicarpa

Shrubs
Garden plants

Callicarpa

Shrubs
Garden plants

250cm

Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' Bodinier beautyberry

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Buy Callicarpa

The genus Callicarpa, popularly known as beauty-berry, is a collection of shrubs celebrated for their ornamental appeal and distinctive fruiting characteristics. These deciduous shrubs are renowned for their vibrant berry clusters that emerge in the autumn, providing a striking contrast against the foliage. Callicarpa thrives in various settings, from borders to group plantings or as a solitary statement piece in the garden landscape.

Beauty-berry is highly regarded for its unique display of colors throughout the year, with foliage that transitions from a striking bronze in spring to a lush green in summer, and then to a delightful pink in the autumn months. This seasonal transformation is complemented further by the plant's summer blossoms and autumnal purple fruits, making it a versatile and attractive addition to any outdoor space.

Key Features of Callicarpa

Flowering Season: The beauty-berry graces gardens with its flowers during the warm months of June through August, showcasing delicate purple and pink hues.
Autumn Berries: Perhaps the most remarkable feature of Callicarpa is its vibrant purple berries that appear in the autumn, offering a unique aesthetic and attracting various wildlife to the garden.
Growth Habit: With an upright to bushy growth habit, Callicarpa can reach an ultimate height of approximately 2.5 meters, making it a suitable choice for those seeking medium-sized shrubbery.
Location Flexibility: These shrubs are adaptable to a range of well-drained soil types and flourish in both sun and partial shade environments, allowing for versatility in garden design.
Water Requirements: Callicarpa has average water needs, ensuring that it is manageable for gardeners with various levels of experience.

Tips for Growing and Caring for Callicarpa

Planting: For optimal growth, plant your Callicarpa in a location that receives ample sunlight to partial shade and in well-drained soil to prevent root rot.
Watering: While beauty-berry is not drought-resistant, it does not require excessive watering. Regular watering routines, especially during dry spells, will help maintain its health and vibrancy.
Pruning: The best time to prune Callicarpa is after flowering, as it blooms on the previous year's growth. Prune with care to encourage strong new stems that will produce next season's flowers and fruits.
Propagation: This genus propagates well from softwood and semi-ripe cuttings, which should be taken in spring or early summer. Rooting is typically successful, allowing for the easy expansion of your Callicarpa collection.
Seasonal Care: Although the shrub is deciduous, its seasonal foliage and fruit changes provide year-round interest. In autumn, when the leaves fall, the berries remain, thus ensuring that your garden continues to be adorned with color even as the temperature drops.

Types

Description

Emanating elegance through its dazzling display, the beauty-berry stands true to its name with vibrant purple berries that crown its foliage in the autumn. Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' is a particularly enchanting variety, offering a picturesque sight when the leaves fall, leaving the clusters of iridescent berries to mesmerize and captivate the discerning eye. This plant not only adds a splash of color to any landscape but also provides a unique aesthetic that is both striking and serene.

Species

The Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion', commonly known as Bodinier's beautyberry, is a deciduous shrub that adds a splash of color to any garden. It is renowned for its striking purple and pink flowers which bloom profusely from June through August. Following the flowering period, this plant produces vivid purple berries that create a stunning visual display throughout the autumn. The Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' is a hardy shrub that provides year-round interest and is a delightful addition to diverse landscape settings.

Ideal placement of a Callicarpa

Callicarpa thrives in locations that offer full sun to partial shade, which encourages a profusion of its distinctive purple or pink flowers and the subsequent vibrant purple berries that give it its striking appeal. The shrub is adaptable to all soil types, provided they are well-drained, ensuring the roots do not become waterlogged. While the plant has an average water need, it is not drought-resistant, thus regular watering is vital, especially during dry spells. Its preferred habitat would offer some protection from harsh winds, which can damage its foliage and compromise its elegant, bushy growth.

Planting a Callicarpa

To ensure successful planting of Callicarpa, select a location that receives full sun to partial shade and has well-drained soil, accommodating the plant's versatile soil type needs. Planting can be done effectively by removing the shrub from its pot and placing it into a pre-dug hole that's twice as wide as the root ball. This will give the roots ample room to spread. Backfill the soil, firming it gently around the base to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and provide the moisture needed for the roots to establish. An average watering schedule will suffice once the plant has taken hold.

Fertilising a Callicarpa

To promote optimal growth and berry production, it is crucial to fertilize Callicarpa effectively. An application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, as new growth appears, will supply the necessary nutrients for the upcoming growing season. A second application can be beneficial in mid-summer, coinciding with the formation of flower buds, to support the development of the shrub's distinctive purple berries. When applying fertilizer, distribute it evenly around the base of the plant, taking care not to concentrate the granules against the stem to prevent damage. Watering after fertilizing helps to dissolve the nutrients and carry them down to the roots, ensuring that the plant receives the full benefit of the feeding regimen.

Pruning a Callicarpa

Pruning should be undertaken with care, ideally in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. As this species blooms on the previous year's wood, it is essential to only remove dead or damaged branches, and trim back stems that have already flowered to encourage vigorous new growth. This selective pruning approach ensures the shrub maintains its natural shape and maximizes the potential for abundant flowering and fruiting in the following season.

Watering a Callicarpa

Watering should be consistent, particularly through the active growth period and during the establishment of new plantings. Although this species requires an average amount of water, attention should be given during dry spells to ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. It is beneficial to water deeply and less frequently to encourage a strong root system capable of supporting the shrub's upright to bushy growth habit. During the flowering months, adequate moisture is particularly important to support the development of the distinctive purple or pink blooms that precede the plant's ornamental berries.

The characteristics of a Callicarpa

The Callicarpa's vibrant purple berries create a striking display in autumn, often persisting after the leaves have fallen for a burst of unexpected winter color. These berries are not only visually appealing but also serve as a food source for wildlife when other resources are scarce. Additionally, this species thrives in a variety of soil types, making it a versatile choice for many gardeners. Its compact root system, housed in a pot, allows for easy placement in garden beds or as a stand-alone specimen.

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