Japanese Beautyberry

Callicarpa japonica

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

▲▼ shrubs with mature, bright, almost metallic purple fruit in clusters in leaf axils

▲▼ fruit close-ups

▲▼ foliage and stems

Location near campus:  in Xeriscape Garden (location at corner of Linwood and National, about 1 mile south of campus); in Master Gardener's Demonstration Garden in Nathanael Greene Park at Botanical Center; at main entrance to Bond Learning Center at Darr Agricultural Center

Callicarpa japonica: Japanese Beautyberry

leaves opposite, simple, deciduous, ovate to ovate-lanceolate with serrated margins and pointed leaf tips; blue green in color with yellowish glands on underside, glabrous; 2-5" long and 1/2 to 2/3 as wide

stems round, slender, gray-tan, pubescent with purplish tinge and pubescence when young

flowers pink, white or lavender in clusters at leaf axils in summer on current season’s growth

fruit is a showy drupe— violet to metallic purple or white (depending on cultivar) and is most notable feature of the species may need cross pollination for fruiting

grows 4-6' tall and wide as a rounded shrub with arching branches; can cut back to ground in winter

prefers full sun to light shade, not particular to soil; prune heavily to rejuvenate

fast growth rate

similar American Beautyberry has larger, more oval-shaped leaves and bright pinkish-red fruit, and is a Missouri native