Monday Plant Feature

Featured Plant:

Name: Calycarpus japonica (Japanese beauty berry)

1. Plant type: Deciduous woody shrub
2. Exposure: Full sun or filtered shade
3. Branching pattern: Opposite
4. Habit: Upright and open plant habit with an average height and spread of 4-6 ft, though it can grow taller.
5. Foliage: Medium texture, summer green turning yellow in the fall
6. Flowers: small white flowers with long stamens
7. Fruit: Tight clusters of metallic purple berries that persist through the winter months. 'Leucocarpa' is a white fruiting variety.
8. Similar species: Callicarpa bodinieri, Callicarpa dichotoma
9. Other: The metallic purple berries appear on bare branches, making them a stunning winter accent. Plant them in groupings or locate a single specimen near a backdrop of green to make a bigger impact in the landscape. It is best not to hide this shrub in the back of a planting, as the details are better appreciated at a closer distance. The late summer flowers are somewhat insignificant compared to the subsequent fruit display, but the foliage turns a nice golden yellow, providing additional seasonal interest.