Callicarpa dichotoma (Purple Beautyberry)

Callicarpa dichotoma, also known as Chinese or purple beautyberry, is an eye-catching medium-sized shrub that grows to a size of 2-4' tall and 3-5' wide in a sprawling habit. In the spring, foliage emerges with small, pale green leaves, followed by pink-lavender flowers in the early summer that attract bees and butterflies. Later in the summer, pollinated blooms turn to showy berry clusters, which contrast well with light-green/yellow autumn foliage. Berries persist after leaves have fallen, providing food for birds and small mammals, and adding multi-season interest through the winter. Easily spotted in the landscape by its clusters of vivid, purple berries Callicarpa dichotoma is a great addition to the landscape for both fall and winter.

Chinese beautyberry is often mistaken for the native species American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), due to the showy purple berries of the genus, but the Chinese variety has looser, hanging berries and a generally more compact size as well as smaller leaves. Callicarpa dichotoma prefers full sun or partial shade and can be easily grown in a variety of medium moisture, well-drained soils. For the best visual effects and berry production, purple beautyberry can be planted in masses and screens, and works well as a naturalized understory plant or alongside bodies of water to add a splash of extra seasonal color. Although Chinese beautyberry is an introduced plant species, it provides a lot of the same pollinator and ecological value as the American species.

Note: Care should be taken with choosing an appropriate planting location for Callicarpa dichotoma, as some reports indicate that Chinese beautyberry can reproduce rapidly via seed and may present the risk of becoming invasive over time. As such, Chinese beautyberry has been introduced to the wild in several parts of Maryland and the Eastern Shore.