Beautyberry 'Profusion'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; full sun usually gives the best flowering, fruiting and autumn colour.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist while establishing, then water during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Moist but well-drained soil, preferably enriched with organic matter; tolerates acidic, neutral and mildly alkaline conditions.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Flowers

Small pinkish-lilac flowers in clusters along the stems in summer, followed by violet-purple berries in autumn.

Foliage

Opposite, pointed green leaves, often bronze-purple when young, turning yellow and sometimes pink-purple in autumn.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.9 ft (0.88 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during dry weather through the first two growing seasons.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) layer of organic mulch in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• On poor soil, apply a balanced fertiliser in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages leafy growth at the expense of fruit.
• Choose a sheltered position in colder gardens, away from drying winter winds.
• Leave enough space for the arching branches rather than repeatedly clipping them back.

Pruning. Prune lightly in early spring, removing dead, damaged or crossing stems and thinning a few of the oldest branches at the base if crowded. Avoid routine hard cutting or shearing, which can reduce the following autumn's berry display.

Early spring

Remove dead or damaged wood and lightly thin crowded growth.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable, water thoroughly and mulch the root zone.

Late spring

Check new shoots for aphids and wash off small colonies with water.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry spells, especially while flowering and setting fruit.

Autumn

Leave the berry-covered branches uncut for their display and for birds.

Winter

Check that young plants remain firm in the ground after frost and that the soil is not waterlogged.

• Place near a frequently used path or window where the autumn berries can be seen closely.
• Grow in front of dark evergreen shrubs to make the purple fruit stand out.
• Use in mixed shrub borders with witch hazels and other plants that provide autumn colour.
• Combine with late-flowering asters and ornamental grasses for an autumn display.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Woodland, Autumn colour, Winter interest and Wildlife garden.

Plant it with: Witch hazel, Japanese anemone, Michaelmas daisy, Feather reed grass, Hellebore and Snowdrop.

Wildlife: Summer flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects. Birds may eat the berries, often later in the season when other food is scarce; their use varies by region.

• Few berries: move out of deep shade, avoid heavy pruning and excessive nitrogen, and consider adding another compatible beautyberry nearby to improve pollination.
• Winter dieback: choose a sheltered site near the cold end of its range and remove dead shoots once growth resumes.
• Aphids on young shoots: wash them off with water and encourage natural predators rather than spraying routinely.
• Wilting or root decline in wet soil: improve drainage or move the shrub; do not leave its roots in persistently saturated ground.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific information is limited. The berries are ornamental, not recommended as food; eating a large quantity may cause stomach upset.

• American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

  Usually has larger, broader leaves and dense berry clusters that closely encircle the stems; 'Profusion' has narrower leaves and clusters held on short stalks.

• Purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma)

  Usually smaller and more distinctly arching, with smaller leaves and berry clusters arranged along slender branches; 'Profusion' forms a taller, more upright shrub.

Callicarpa comes from Greek words meaning 'beautiful fruit', while bodinieri honours the French missionary and plant collector Émile-Marie Bodinier.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings later in summer. Use cuttings to retain the characteristics of 'Profusion'; seedlings will not reliably come true.

Accepted botanical name

Callicarpa giraldii Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion' is an older name for Callicarpa giraldii.

Native range

China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast and Vietnam.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.