White Japanese Beautyberry

Callicarpa japonica 'Leucocarpa'

Verbenaceae (Vervain Family)

▲ mature shrub

▲ white berries

Location on campus:  in landscape area south of Plaster Student Union

Callicarpa japonica 'leucocarpa': White 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 white drupe— (compared to violet to metallic purple of main species Japanese Beautyberry 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