Callicarpa bodinieri Pearl Glam

The Callicarpa bodinieri Pearl Glam is the variety we have been waiting for! It has a stunning purple foliage that lasts (almost) all year round and looks magnificent in autumn when the bush is covered in its famous bright purple berries. This foliage colour also highlights its summer flowering, which is white-lilac in colour. This deciduous bush, attractive in many ways, has a compact habit suitable for even the smallest gardens. With its nectar-rich flowers and fruits that birds feed on in winter, it is both ornamental and beneficial for biodiversity and easy to grow in most soils.

The Callicarpa bodinieri used to be classified as part of the Verbenaceae family, but it is now considered a member of the Lamiaceae family. This family includes more than 200 genera and about 6,000 species of plants. Many of these plants have fragrant foliage, such as Mint, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Oregano, Rosemary, Basil, and Savoury, often used as cooking herbs. This family also has many ornamental plants, including the Salvias, Ajuga, Lamium, Stachys, and more, which have foliage rich in essential oils.

The Callicarpa genus has around 150 species native to North America or Asia (China, Korea, Japan). Some of these species are commonly cultivated as ornamental plants because of their numerous and colourful small fruits in autumn and winter. Callicarpa bodinieri is native to China and is named after Father Bodinier, a missionary and plant explorer in this Asian country. This plant is also known as the candy bush because of its profusion of attractive but inedible purple berries.

The Pearl Glam variety of Callicarpa produces many violet fruits, about 4 mm (0.2 inches) in diameter. The fruits appear from September until Christmas and are gathered in clusters of 30 to 40, forming violet balls along the branches. The fruits result from summer flowering, which occurs in June and July. The flowers are lilac-coloured and small, with protruding yellow stamens, and are nectar-rich. They are gathered in cymes that are 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 inches) in diameter. The Pearl Glam plant is a compact bush that grows to a height of 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) to 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) with a spread of 90 cm (35.4 inches) to 1.20 m. It will grow in most ordinary soils, even limestone, and in sunny areas. It may suffer from a lack of water in summer if planted in drying soil, so it is advisable to water it from time to time if the leaves start to droop. The Pearl Glam variety of Callicarpa is very hardy once established and can survive temperatures as low as -20°C (-4 °F) or even lower. Although it can be affected by frost in its early years, it quickly recovers after pruning to remove the affected branches.

Callicarpa is a charming shrub that is attractive to wildlife and ornamental, particularly during winter, when its colourful fruit stands out against the often grey sky. Plant it in a mixed border with other interesting plants in spring or summer to enjoy its beauty all year round. The Korean White Forsythia, which flowers in white during February and March, is little known but perfect for opening the flowering season. The superb Rubra Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) takes over in April and May, displaying vibrant red flowers and offering decorative yellow fruits in autumn that contrast beautifully with the purple berries of the Callicarpa. Plant with Weigelas that are easy to grow and generous in flowers in late spring. In summer, the small Hint of Gold Caryopteris offers beautiful blue flowers, while its golden foliage in spring turns to lime green during flowering. For a strong contrast of colours, consider planting a Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks', with purple and golden yellow hues.