Something for February - Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion'
February is the month when the hidden potential of our gardens is revealed. On a crisp, frosty morning, with many of the plants bare of foliage, there can be a wonderful sense of space in the garden and a chance to take a fresh look for new planting opportunities.
When it comes to choosing something new to plant we are spoilt for choice. There are so many different types of plant available, each with its own way of creating moments of glory in the garden at different times of the year. If you are looking for an exciting opportunity for your garden when the main flowering season has passed, why not consider plants with ornamental fruits?
The distinctive forms of ornamental fruits differ markedly from the shapes of flowers and foliage around the garden and offer an interesting additional feature. Their strong colours add interest as well - shades of red, purple, blue and yellow are among the range of colours to be found. When considering plants with ornamental fruits, look out for the Callicarpa family, otherwise known as the ‘Beauty berry’. This group is made up of 140 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees. They originate from woodland in mainly tropical and sub-tropical regions and bring with them all the fun and colour of the tropics. As the name ‘Beauty berry’ would suggest, they are grown mainly for their highly-coloured, bead-like fruits.
Perhaps one of the best examples of this family is the Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’. This striking plant bears thick clusters of violet berries which glisten on its erect shoots throughout autumn and early winter. The magic of this deciduous shrub isn’t just in its berries, as ‘Profusion’ provides interest at other times during the year too. Its young leaves are bronze in colour and grow opposite each other along the branch. This creates the perfect complement to both its autumnal berries and the numerous tiny pale pink flowers which show in summer. Whether the plant is flowering or in fruit, cuttings from ‘Profusion’ can help make attractive indoor plant and flower arrangements too. Please note the fruits are not edible.