Home Garden & Home Plants Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ | Plant Profile

Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ | Plant Profile

Plants

One of the best ornamental fruiting shrubs, Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ is primarily grown for its striking display of vibrant purple coloured berries in compact clusters, sprinkled on every arching branch. Small lilac flowers encase this medium sized deciduous shrub during the summer. These transform into rich, violet-purple fruits in early autumn.

Bees and butterflies are drawn to their irresistible scent, making ‘Profusion’ a wonderful addition to your garden. They add a flash of colour to the landscape and are an elegant contrast to the lanceolate, purple-ish leaves that turn rosy-pink in autumn.

Flowering time: Summer

Sun requirements: Full to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well drained soils and weak alkaline or acidic pH

Hardiness: Hardy, can be sheltered or exposed

Size: Can grow to 400cm height x 250cm width

Growing guide

Planting

To grow Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ in optimum conditions, the most prominent flower and fruit production occur in full sun. Place it near a path or in a front garden where you an appreciate its beauty all year round. You can plant facing any direction, but results have shown that the west and south facing plants produce more fruit. The leaves will turn yellow if the soil is overly alkaline. Plant Callicarpa ‘profusion’ in early spring or during autumn. Flowers should start to bloom in early July meaning fruit will start to appear around September and die back in November. Reaching optimum height will take between 10 and 20 years.

Watering

The Callicarpa enjoys being in moist but well draining soil and a mulching annually with well routed compost or manure will help with growth.

Pruning

Callicarpa are fairly low maintenance plants that tolerate pruning well. Prune in late winter and early spring, before any flowers have formed. They can take a light pruning of dead branches straight after flowering to keep them in shape. If the shrubs become too large or start to wither and produce fewer flowers then give a heavier pruning and half the branch size. You should offer a heavy pruning every three to four years. After pruning new growth will sprout but flowers will not appear until the following year, on the pruned branches.

Complementary Planting Ideas

Companion planting with contrasting whites can make the ‘Profusion’ stand out even more, planting flowers like Helleborus niger which flowers throughout winter and into spring is a great choice. Another statement plant would be the Philadelphus ‘Lemoinei’ (mock orange) with it light green foliage and will flower throughout the summer months.