1 named cultivar

‘Profusion’Profusion Bodinier Beautyberry

shrub

Bodinier Beautyberry

The Story

Plant Bio

Callicarpa bodinieri, Bodinier's beautyberry, is an upright deciduous shrub from southern China, six to ten feet tall and four to eight across. Slender arching downy stems carry pointed leaves, small pink flowers open in summer, and dense clusters of intensely violet berries wrap tightly around the stems after the leaves fall.

The berry colour is a metallic violet that reads as genuinely artificial, and it is best after the leaves drop, so this is a shrub for late autumn rather than summer. It fruits far more heavily when several plants are grown together, so buy three rather than one. It flowers and fruits on new wood, meaning it can be cut back hard each spring.

Uses & Benefits:

Clusters of metallic violet berries wrapped around bare stems in late autumn.

Undemanding and forgiving of hard pruning, since it fruits entirely on new wood.

Bees and butterflies work the summer flowers, and birds take the berries once other food runs short.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

96 inches

Width

72 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southern China

Toxicity

Berries are not eaten by people

Planting

How to Grow

Plant three or more together for heavy fruiting.
Give it full sun to partial shade and drained soil.
Cut back hard in early spring; it fruits on new wood.
Water while establishing, then only in drought.
Site it where the bare stems will be seen in autumn.
Leave the berries for birds once they are past.

Pro Tip

Plant three together — a lone beautyberry sets a fraction of the fruit that a group of cross-pollinating plants does.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant several together for fruit 🌿
Cut back hard in early spring ✂️
Site it for autumn visibility 👀
Leave late berries for birds 🐦

Don't

Plant a single specimen and expect heavy fruit ❌
Prune it in autumn ❌
Judge it by its summer looks ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Autumn berry display in a mixed borderGrouped planting for heavy fruitingBird and wildlife planting

Companion Plants

ViburnumWinterberry Muhly Grass AsterSwitchgrass

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Bodinier Beautyberry questions

What zones can Bodinier Beautyberry grow in?

Bodinier Beautyberry is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Bodinier Beautyberry deer resistant?

Yes — Bodinier Beautyberry is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Bodinier Beautyberry bloom?

Bodinier Beautyberry typically blooms in mid-summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Bodinier Beautyberry need full sun?

Bodinier Beautyberry does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Bodinier Beautyberry drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Bodinier Beautyberry handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.