Callicarpa dichotoma

28 Oct, 2007
9 likes

Just had to let you all see this shrub again. It does this colouring every year without fail and dominates the front garden just now

Comments on this photo

Spritzhenry

It does look beautiful. How long do the leaves stay on? It's windy down here today and there are leaves flying about. I'm never sure if I like purple berries or not. Do birds like them?

28 Oct, 2007

Andrewr

How long the leaves stay on is entirely due to the weather but they usually come off some time in November. The birds don't seem to touch the berries so they are around till February (I think they have rotted by then but it doesn't self sow)

28 Oct, 2007

Spritzhenry

I much prefer your shrub to the variety where the berries grow directly from the stems (bodinieri). It just looks unnatural, somehow. I wonder why the birds won't eat purple berries....

30 Oct, 2007

Andrewr

As it's not a native plant, I don't think our birds recognise the berries as being edible. They go for red ones first (as they are ripe), then orange and if things get really tough, yellow ones
You might have to hunt around for a supplier of Callicarpa dichotoma - mine came mail order from Burncoose Nursery in Cornwall several years ago (www.burncoose.co.uk)

30 Oct, 2007