Beauty (Callicarpa) is a decorative shrub, which in the growing season is a green, quite ordinary bush – until it begins to bloom. When most of the plants slowly falls into autumn sleep, the beauty begins to shine. Its twigs are covered with spherical, metallic purple fruit that looks like … berries. However, cautious, because you can only admire them, they are inedible.
Because no one else in the area is yet. And you can be the first – or first – who will illuminate the garden in October more than pumpkin.
Here’s what the beauty offers:
- Violet explosion of colors – its fruits are absolutely impossible to counterfeit. No other bushes have such a shade,
- It impresses when other plants are already dying – it looks most beautiful from September to December. Perfect at the end of the season,
- It catches the eye – we guarantee that the neighbors will ask “what is this plant?”,
- It is easy to grow and care.
Kalikarpa It usually grows up to 1.5-2 meters high. Ma Delicate, lanceolate leaveswhich turn golden yellow in autumn. Its fruits are small, spherical, with an intense purple color. They persist even after the leaves fall, which makes the shrub magically naked and shiny.
Is it frost -resistant? Yes – but not one hundred percent. Kalikarp tolerates our wintersif they are not Siberian. In cooler regions, it is worth planting in quiet places, e.g. at the wall of the house or hedge, covering agrotextile or leaf mound for the winter.
It is wise to choose more resistant varieties, e.g. Callicarpa Bodinieri ‘Profusion’.
The best planting time is spring or early autumn – then it will be able to root well before frosts. When buying a seedling, choose those with a well -developed root system. Where to plant the beauty?
- He likes the sun or a partial shade – in the shade it will not bear fruit so spectacularly.
- It grows best in permeable, slightly acidic soil, but there are no great requirements.
- It can be planted solo (as a solitaire) or in groups – though note: for fruit to appear, two bushes are needed! Beauties are foreign plants – they will not give a spectacle alone.
In early spring (March-April) it is worth cutting the beauty, even quite strongly. Why? Because Calikarp fruits on annual shoots. The cut stimulates her to grow and abundant fruiting. In addition, you need to take care of its hydration and fertilization. In the first year after planting, it should be keep moisture. In the season it is worth feeding it with fertilizer for decorative bushes, but in moderation. Will be .
Violet fruit of beauty is a strong color accent. That is why it is good to combine her with plants that will be a background or contrast for her.
Good neighbors will be:
- – np. Miskanty lub of the spaler,
- barberry and dogwood – for contrasting leaves and colors,
- bouquet hydrangeas – calikarp will appear when hydrangeas disappear,
- Evergreen shrubs – e.g. laurel or yew, which will emphasize the violet of beauty.
Calikarp is also suitable for large pots for terrace or balcony. You just have to remember to choose a sufficiently large pot (minimum 40 cm in diameter), and for the winter move it to a cool but sheltered place, e.g. to an unheated garage.
