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General |
Purple berries in October - November |
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Planting distance |
: 100 x 100 |
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Quantity per metre |
: 1 |
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Soil type |
: All types of soil |
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Winter hardiness |
: Good |
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Characteristics |
: Very big purple berries, highly productive. |
The Callicarpa plant is a native plant in Europe with origins in the Netherlands. The Callicarpa is also known as "Schoonvrucht" ('pretty fruit'), but is commonly called purple berry plant. The plant is characterized by bunches of purple berries providing the garden and its surroundings with a magic hue. It also works well as a decorative addition to Christmas pieces.
Flowering period
The berry plant, a hardy plant, flowers from June to July and is approximately 200 to 250 centimeters tall. The callicarpa has an upward growth mode with a tight branch structure. It is believed that the berries of this plant are a festive meal for birds, but nothing could be further from the truth; Birds do not like these berries because of their bitterness. This is why the callicarpa has developed the ability to self-pollinate and create berries with a single plant.
The leaf of the callicarpa has an oval shape and lets the plant branch until late in fall. The leaves turn yellow before they fall on the ground and the berries get their important purple feature in December. The ideal cutting time is when the leaves have fallen and the berries have their full color. Eventually, the berries lose their purple glory in February and shrink into small, gray raisins.
Plants and location of the callicarpa
For anyone interested in purple accents in the garden, the callicarpa is the right choice. The callicarpa has a high tolerance for soil types and therefore has only few demands, but like any plant, it does have certain preferences for its location. The callicarpa grows best on a moist soil in partial shade or sun. However, the soil should not be too moist. It is therefore important to make the soil thoroughly permeable and remove hard layers before planting the Callicarpa. This will guarantee the plant will grow and develop well.
Low-maintenance
The callicarpa is a beautiful addition to the environment and, in addition, requires little maintenance. Still, the callicarpa, too, should be pruned every now and then. This is best done in spring, after the frost. During the pruning process only a few branches need to be cut to the ground. Keep in mind that biennial branches need not be pruned because these grow new branches. If you prune the callicarpa every year, it will grow less berries.
In the vase
The Callicarpa does not only do well in the garden, is also does well indoors, where this purple miracle provides your home with a colorful accent. Before the branches can be pruned and moved to a vase, you need to wait until the berries are fully grown and have their full color. It is important not to prune the branches too early. Once pruned and in a vase, it is important that they are in a cool and not too sunny place, so that the purple color can last for a long time. For an extra sunny accent in the house, the branches can be combined with yellow daffodils.
