Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion'
This excellent shrub has bronze leaves when young, followed by pale pink flowers. However, the real treat comes in late autumn when the flowers give way to masses of dark violet berries.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Beauty berry 'Profusion'
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Height & spread
- 3m x 2.5m (10ft x 8ft)
- Form
- Deciduous shrub
- Soil
- Fertile and well-drained soil
- Aspect
- Full sun or dappled shade
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
Callicarpa
There are about 140 species of evergreen and deciduous Callicarpa found in woodland in tropical and subtropical regions of North and Central America, East Asia, Australia and Malaya.
In British gardens Callicarpa is ideal for a shrub border and fruits most prolifically in long, hot summers when planted in groups. Tender and half-hardy species should be given protection in a cool greenhouse in winter.
Callicarpa bears numerous tiny, white, pink, red or purple flowers followed by clusters of small, but highly coloured fruits. Its name comes from the Greek word callicarpus meaning "with beautiful fruits".
Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion'
A bushy, upright, deciduous shrub with dark green leaves, which are bronze when young, and grow up to 18cm (7in) long.
Small pale pink flowers are produced in panicles, up to 3.5 cm (11/4in) across in midsummer. These are followed, in autumn, by attractive and abundant dark violet berries.
Cultivation
- Grow under glass in loam-based potting compost (John Innes No. 2) in full or bright filtered light.
- In the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly. Water sparingly in winter.
- Outdoors, grow in fertile well-drained soil in sun or dappled shade.
- Prune annually in early spring, when buds begin to swell, by cutting back to a low permanent framework.
Propagation
- Sow seed of species in containers in a cold frame in autumn or spring.
- Root softwood cuttings in spring, or semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in summer.
- Generally free from pests and diseases.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:
'Medium-sized deciduous shrub of upright habit. Leaves 5-12cm long, lanceolate, purplish when young, turning rosy-pink in autumn. Flowers small, lilac; berries 4mm, violet-purple, in compact clusters.'