Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst'

'Early Amethyst' is one of the first Beautyberries to set berries in late summer/early fall. Bright green leaves emerge on the lovely arching branches in mid-spring. Leaves darken to a deeper green as summer progresses and are accompanied by a scattering of insignificant pink flowers. Flowers are followed by the amazing metallic purple berries that give this plant its name.

'Early Amethystâ' is one of the few Beautyberries that is fully hardy to zone 5. Our plant takes a beating in the wind and snow, yet the berries regularly persist on the branches all winter. The second photo shows our plant in it first year in February.

Easy to grow in full sun to part shade in average soil.

Zones: 5 to 8

Family: Lamiaceae

Type: Deciduous Shrub

Height: 3 to 4 ft.

Spread: 4 to 5 ft.

Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade

Soil Condition: Average, well-drained soil

Bloom Time: June to August

Native Range: China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam

Image Credits:

• Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons