CALLICARPA. Beautyberry. Widely distributed, mostly in the subtropics. A large group of shrubs in the verbena family, several of them quite ornamental. Those of interest here are hardy and deciduous, and of moderate size. They have neatly paired, usually pointed-oval leaves, coloring beautifully in the fall. Clustered in the leaf axils in summer and early fall are small white to purple flowers, showy only en masse. These give way to pearl-like berries which hang on after the leaves are shed in winter, showing up beautifully against the bare stems. The following are easy to grow, thriving in sun or light shade in most soils, with moderate watering. They are hardy to 0oF or less.
dichotoma. China and East Asia. This is a bushy shrub, usually growing 4-6' high and wide. It has rather slender stems and broadly pointed-oval, bright green leaves about 2" long, coloring mostly bright yellow in fall. The flowers are pink to white in color and tiny. However, the berries are quite showy, lilac to rich violet in color. The variety albifructa offers an unusual twist, with pearl-white berries.
bodinieri (giraldiana) ‘Profusion’. China. A similarly tidy but larger shrub, growing 6-8' tall and of about equal breadth. It has arching branches and 3-4" pointed-oval, fuzzy leaves, which take on pink and orange hues in fall and early winter. Small, dense clusters of pale lavender blossoms are borne along the stems in summer; these develop into vivid reddish purple berries which persist most of the winter.