Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' – Purple Beautyberry Shrub
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' – Purple Beautyberry Shrub
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' – A Jewel of the Autumn Garden
Few shrubs stop visitors in their tracks quite like Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' in full berry. From late summer into autumn, the arching branches become laden with clusters of vivid, violet-purple berries — an almost surreal intensity of colour that looks more like a jeweller’s display than a garden plant.
'Issai' is a particularly free-fruiting selection, producing its extraordinary berries reliably even as a young plant and without the need for a pollinator. The delicate pink flowers in summer are a quiet prelude to the main event, and the soft green foliage turns a warm yellow before dropping in autumn, extending the season of interest further.
Key Features
- Exceptional violet-purple berries from late summer through autumn — one of the most striking of any hardy shrub
- Self-fertile — produces berries without a pollinator partner
- Free-fruiting even as a young plant
- Delicate pink summer flowers precede the berry display
- Warm yellow autumn foliage before leaf drop
- Fully hardy across the UK (RHS H5)
- Compact and well-behaved — suits borders and containers
Growing Guide
- Position: Full sun to partial shade; best berry colour and quantity in full sun
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates most soil types
- Mature size: Approx. 1m × 1m
- Pruning: Cut back hard in early spring to encourage vigorous new growth and a strong berry display
- Supplied as: Established 10 litre pot-grown plant, ready to plant out
A conversation-starting specimen for any autumn border. Pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses, Cotinus, and late-season perennials for a rich, jewel-toned planting scheme.
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Planting Instructions
Plant in spring or autumn in moist, well-drained soil. Full sun gives the best berry colour and quantity, though partial shade is tolerated. Callicarpa dichotoma is adaptable to most soil types provided drainage is reasonable.
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and to the same depth as the pot. Remove the plant from its container, gently loosen the roots, and position so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil. Backfill, firm in well, and water thoroughly.
Water regularly during the first growing season to establish. Apply a mulch of bark or compost around the base (keeping it clear of the stem) to retain moisture. Cut back hard to around 30cm in early spring to encourage vigorous new growth and the best berry display — berries are produced on the current season’s wood.
Size & Specification
Supplied as an established pot-grown plant in a 10 litre pot. Mature size approximately 1m height × 1m spread. Growth rate moderate. Compact and well-behaved — suitable for borders and large containers. Berries produced reliably even on young plants.
Delivery & Dispatch
Supplied as a container-grown plant in a 10 litre pot, available for dispatch year-round subject to stock availability. Orders are typically dispatched within 3–5 working days via a tracked courier service.
Plants are carefully packaged to ensure they arrive in excellent condition. You will receive a dispatch notification with tracking details when your order is on its way. If you have any queries about delivery, please contact us before ordering.
Wildlife & Ecological Notes
Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai' produces delicate pink flowers in summer that attract bees and other pollinators. The vivid violet-purple berries in autumn and winter provide a food source for blackbirds and other berry-feeding birds, particularly later in the season when other berry crops are exhausted.
While not a native UK species, it offers useful late-season wildlife value in ornamental garden settings. Pairs well with native berry-bearing species such as Hawthorn and Guelder Rose for maximum year-round wildlife benefit.