Add charm to your garden with this shrub .
American beautyberry(Callicarpa americana)produces white-hot or light-colored pinkish flowersin the summerthat make quite a statement in the garden , but this bush gets its name from a gorgeous display of bright purple berries in the fall . The berries obtain well into the wintertime , induce a delicious treat for chick . Because native American beautyberry blooms on newfangled development , you do n’t need to interest about incidentally cut off prime buds in the fall . In gain to the native American beautyberry , Nipponese beautyberry ( C. japonicaspp . ) and Formosan beautyberry ( C. dichotomaspp . ) bush are uncommitted .
endearing green leaves , which last throughout the growing time of year , act as a verdant backcloth for both blossom and berries . Beautyberry ’s small flowers are hold in tight clusters near the fore , a presentation that add subtle spell to the garden in former summertime . They also lay out the stage for fall ’s grand finale . As summer winds down , the little green berry that follow the bloom turn a purple purpleness that calculate specially appealing when dusted with hoar . Long - hold up beautyberry ramification make colorful additions tocut flower agreement .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Where to Plant Beautyberry
In the natural state , this shrub grows along the edges of timber area where they are in lighting to moderate shade . However , they can be planted in full sunlight for the best blooms and berry production , as long as they have sufficient body of water . Beautyberry does well in mass plantings and is a salient fall specimen plant .
How and When to Plant Beautyberry
Nursery - originate beautyberry shrubs can be planted in either spring or gloaming . This bush does fine in ordinary , well - draining soil , but very short dirt should beamended with compost or constituent matterbefore the shrub is embed . Dig a hole only as deep as the rootball and set the plant in the soil , backfilling as needed . Only one bush is needed for berry production , but the yield increase with more than one . When planting multiple shrubs , space them 5 - 7 understructure apart , depending on the variety .
Beautyberry Care Tips
Beautyberry is a low-pitched - maintenace , easy - to - develop bush .
Light
Even though this works typically grow in timber area , it produces the good fruit rig in full Sunday . Beautyberry turn in part shade , but it displays a looser habit and bears less yield .
Soil and Water
In a garden context , beautyberry prefers moist , well - run out soilswith some constituent matter . Beautyberry shrubs alsotolerate clay soilsas long as they do n’t remain blind drunk for long periods . Give the bush about 1 inch of water weekly during dry flow ; it can tolerate some drouth .
Temperature and Humidity
Beautyberry does n’t have a special temperature or humidness requirements as long as it ’s grown within in its hardiness zones . When its moisture needs are met , it has a good heat tolerance .
Fertilizer
When planted in the proper soil , beautyberry does not need fertilization . Fertilizer advertise more foliation and less fruit .
Pruning
Prune this shrubin late wintertime . It blooms on new wood in spring , so you do n’t want to dress it then . Either cut the integral shrub down to about 12 inches from the ground or selectively polish off a third of the honest-to-god or most damaged branch .
Potting and Repotting Beautyberry
Although beautyberry is a bit large for a houseplant , it can be grown successfully in large , clayey containers near outdoor posing area . satisfy the container with garden soilmixed with compostand cast aside in some organic matter . The planting medium should remain moist at all metre . Make a hole the same size of it as the root ball and set the shrub in the hole , backfilling any persist space with the grease . adjure down with your hand on the soil to slay any air pockets . The shrub can be pruned in winter to maintain its size , so it never has to be repotted .
Pests and Problems
Beautyberry is n’t bear upon by pests or disease . However , winter hardiness is a problem with the shrub , so gardeners in chilly area should plant it in a sheltered location andmulch it wellin the fall .
How to Propagate Beautyberry
Beautyberry shrub reseed itself , so a walkway in the garden in the saltation should reveal several tiny new shrubs just wait to be moved to their lasting placement . If you do n’t have a beautyberry bush but have an aggreeable champion with one , you may circulate via seeds or stem cutting off .
Seed : Pick several mature berries in late fall . Each Charles Edward Berry contains 2 - 4 seed . Soak the berries in water for 24 hour . Then , put them in a jar almost fill with water , seal it , and judder vigorously to separate the seed from the pulp . The mature seeds will subside to the bottom , while unfledged seed and pulp will float . filtrate off the floating material and discard it . Then strain out the matured source at the bottom and spread them on a paper towel to dry out .
When you are quick to found , dowse the mature seeds in water supply . Fill modest flowerpot with seed - starter intermixture and seed 1 or 2 seeds per pot , cover them with only 1/16 inch of planting mix . pee the weed and put them in a warm sunny space . Mist the planting mix regularly until the seedling are quick to transplant . Germination takes three months .
Credit: Denny Schrock
cutting : In spring , take 4- to 6 - in softwood press clipping from newfangled growth . Each cut should have two or three bent of foliage . Fill minuscule pots with moist pot soil or a infertile planting premix and poke a gob in the inwardness of the soil . Remove the farewell from the bottom half of the cutting , dip them in rooting hormone , and infix one in each of the holes , firming the soil around them . Put a clear plastic bagful over each pot and cutting and put it in hopeful but indirect luminance . bump off the bag and mist the soil regularly . When you see raw emergence on the cut , root has started . Remove the bag permanently . The cuttings take six to 10 weeks to develop big enough to transplant .
Types of Beautyberry
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americanais a giving , North American native plant . It bears pretty lilac flowers in the spring , followed by clusters of imperial fruit in autumn . It grows 3 - 5 feet tall and wide . geographical zone 6 - 10 .
‘Issai’ Beautyberry
Callicarpa dichotoma’Issai ' has large quantities of purple yield that begin to recrudesce their color earlier than many other change of beautyberry . zone 5 - 8
Mexican Beautyberry
Callicarpa acuminatabears ball of wine - red berries in the late summer and fall . It grows 6- 8 feet tall and wide . Zones 8 - 10 .
‘Profusion’ Beautyberry
ThisCallicarpa bodinieri’Profusion ' choice volunteer sorry unripe leaf , pale pinkish summer flowers , and full-bodied purple fruits in fall . It farm 10 feet tall and 8 fundament across-the-board . Zones 6 - 8 .
Purple Beautyberry
Callicarpa dichotomaoffers bright green foliage , pink summer flowers , and bold purple yield in September and October . It grows 4 feet tall and all-inclusive . zone 6 - 8 .
‘Welch’s Pink’ Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana’Welch ’s Pink ' gets its name from its pinkish midsummer flush and bright pink fall berries . It grow 3 - 6 feet grandiloquent . zone 7 - 9 .
Innovations
Because of beautyberry ’s increase popularity , breeders are cultivate to grow hybrids with expanded hardiness . Breeders are also trying to develop earlier - fruit variety and varieties that hold larger or different - colored fruit . Some new cultivars boast burgundy foliage , a bold step onwards for a unpatterned shrub ( aside from its declension beauty ) .
Frequently Asked Questions
American beautyberry bush are slightly taller than the Japanese beautyberry , which has more of a tears form and modest berries . The Taiwanese beautyberry has a greater cold tolerance and is usually a small-scale industrial plant .
American beautyberry shrubs will thrive in good conditions in a dwelling garden for up to 30 long time .
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Susan A. Roth
Credit: Bill Stites
Credit: Denny Schrock
