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Variegated Beautyberry
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Variegata'
Height: 6 feet
Spread: 6 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 5a
Description:
A spectacular variegated variety presenting stunning foliage and berries; a welcome addition as a shrub border or accent; also an excellent hedge or screen; disease and insect resistant and naturally hardy
Ornamental Features
Variegated Beautyberry is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. It features an abundance of magnificent white berries in early fall. It has attractive creamy white-variegated dark green foliage with hints of grayish green. The oval bipinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and turn yellow in fall. It has clusters of white pea-like flowers at the ends of the branches from early to mid summer, which are interesting on close inspection.
Landscape Attributes
Variegated Beautyberry is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Variegated Beautyberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
Variegated Beautyberry will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Variegated Beautyberry makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.
This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.