John Rickard
Family
Verbenaceae
Botanical Name
CALLICARPA formosana
Plant Common Name
Formosa Beautyberry
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Gardeners in warm temperate to subtropical areas can enjoy the deep lavender to pale purple berries in winter on the Formosa beautyberry. A deciduous shrub with an upright, rounded habit, multiple stem trunks are open with arching branches. This shrub is native to the mid-elevations of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, southeastern China and northernmost Philippines.
Formosa beautyberry's green leaves are pointed ovals, sometimes oval lances. In mid to late summer, puffy clusters of small pink to faintly lavender flowers occur at leaf bases all along the length of the branches. Bees and butterflies swarm and pollinate the blossoms. By early to late fall, thousands of small, round fruits adorn the pale sandy brown branches. The fruits display more of a purple hue compared to the rosy violet berries seen on other common ornamental beautyberry shrubs. As the leaves turn slightly yellow and drop away in the cooling days of fall, the Formosan beautyberry's fruits become a focal showcase.
Grow this beautyberry in full sun to partial sun in a non-alkaline soil with good drainage. Soils that are evenly moist and enriched with organic matter create the healthiest plants. Use Formosa beautyberry in a mixed shrub border or as an informal screen. Prune back the branches in late winter to rejuvenate the plant, limit its yearly size, and to promote additional branching with a more abundant fruit display.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 6
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 10
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Sunset Zone
H1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
3'-10' / 0.9m - 3.0m
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Width
3'-10' / 0.9m - 3.0m
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Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
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Native To
Southeastern Asia, China, Japan
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Light Pink, Lavender
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Fruit Color
Purple
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Bark Color
Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
