My daughter-in-law has this beautiful flowering bush in the middle of her slate patio. The flowers are very small and a vibrant color of purple. It is quite stunning when in full bloom. Can you identify it for us? Many thanks, Kathy
Answer
Hi Kathy,
The name of the shrub in your picture is Callicarpa dichotoma or Beautyberry which is native to Asia. There are several different cultivars of Beautyberry such as 'Early Amethyst', 'Issai', 'Purple Pearls', 'Pearl Glam', etc. Beautyberry grows several feet tall and has small flowers in the spring and show stopping purple berries in the fall (as you can see from the picture you sent). Beautyberry is easy to grow and best if you prune it back to 6" or so in the very early spring. This hard pruning will promote strong flower growth because it flowers on new wood and will keep the shrub relatively compact. Beautyberry grows in well-drained soil in a wide range of sunlight conditions from full sun to part shade, although if it's too shady you'll see lots of leggy growth. The fruits begin to ripen in September and will last until October when the birds will have feasted on all of them! You'll have best luck if you plant several varieties in a group to promote cross-pollination and fruit set. It's a great shrub. Enjoy it!
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
