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.