Callicarpa bodinieri ( Bodinier’s Beautyberry ) is a beautiful shrub that is native to China, Thailand and Laos. It is mainly grown for its attractive purple leaves, flowers, and berries. The Beautyberry flowers attract bees and birds into the garden. The plant is also grown as a hedge. Tiny purple berries start growing in clusters of between 20-40 in autumn. In winter, the purple leaves turn into a rosy pink before falling off.
The berries themselves are bitter and wildlife will only eat them during winter when they are the last available food source.
Plants grow best in temperate conditions and can tolerate frost when established.
Check out our page on American Beautyberry for a similar variety that is better suited to warmer climates.
Growth
Callicarpa bodinieri is a perennial shrub that grows to around 180 cm (6 feet). The plant prefers loamy soils and full sun. The plant grows best in colder climates and produce more fruit if grown in multiples. The leaves are ovate with saw toothed margins and turn yellow during late autumn. Flowers are purple attract plenty of bees and birds into the garden.
Beautyberry plants are easy to start from seed during the warmer seasons but will require protection while young if temperatures drop below 5°C / 40°F.
Germination rates improve when seeds are kept at temperatures around 18°C/65°F. Young seedlings should be kept in pots until after their first full winter. Once established plants can tolerate temperatures as cold as -10°C / 14°F. This variety can also tolerate droughts, strong winds, snow, heavy grazing and pruning.
Prune during late winter and early spring to encourage dense regrowth.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Lamiaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate, Sub-Tropical, Tropical.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
5 to 30°C / 40 to 85°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well-draining sandy/loamy soil.
LOCATION:
Full Sun – Part Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 1.8 metres (6 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 1.5 metres (5 feet)
pH:
5.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Deciduous
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Light – Medium
POLLINATION:
Birds and Bees.
MATURITY:
1-2 years
GERMINATION RATES:
65-75%
GERMINATION TIME:
3-4 weeks after sowing.
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Easy-Medium
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 550
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No.
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT CALLICARPA BODINIERI (Bodinier’s Beautyberry)
The botanical name Bodinieri refers to French botanist of the 19th century, Emile-Marie Bodinier, who collected plants in China.
Profusion is a hybrid that was first introduced in the Netherlands in 1887. Its main difference is that it produces more berries than the original.
