Callicarpa bodinieri Magical Snowstar

The Callicarpa bodinieri 'Magical Snowstar® Snowstar 'KOLMSNOSTAR' is a rather discreet shrub during the beautiful season, but reveals itself at the end of summer and in autumn with its fruiting of a dazzling white like snow, which does not brown. Its small berries clustered tightly remain very attractive for a long time, accompanying a well-coloured autumn foliage, dressing its bare branches in winter. It is a hardy and accommodating plant that will find its place in front of a large mass of shrubs, a free hedge, in a sunny or semi-shady location.

The Callicarpa bodinieri Magical Snowstar is a very recent horticultural variety derived from the Bodinier's Beautyberry. It is a deciduous shrub traditionally classified in the Verbena family, now transferred to the Lamiaceae family, where we find the sages and mints. This plant originates from central China and Vietnam. The Callicarpa Magical Snowstar is a creation of Minier nurseries. A shrub with a upright and bushy habit, it reaches between 2 m and 2.50 m in height by 1.50 m to 2 m wide at maturity. The plant abundantly produces, in June-July, on the current year's branches, discreet small flowers of pink-purple colour with yellow stamens. This flowering is followed in early October by the formation of numerous berries of 3.5 to 4 mm in diameter, shiny and pure white, grouped in small clusters, all along the stems. They often persist until the heart of winter. The foliage consists of entire, oval-elliptic, dark green leaves on the upper side, paler and fuzzy on the underside. They take on beautiful autumnal shades, yellow to orange.

Plant the Callicarpa Bodinieri Magical Snowstar prominently to enjoy its white berries that shine in autumn and are so cheerful during the gloomy days of early winter. It is advisable to plant the Callicarpa in groups of three to improve pollination and thus fruit formation. This very hardy and accommodating shrub, which requires very little maintenance, will be enhanced by a carpet of Stachys byzantina or candytuft, for example. Also, cut its branches covered with fruits to make bouquets, with mistletoe and holly, for instance.