Callicarpa formosana Check with George acidic and humus-rich soil kept

acidic and humus-rich soil kept moist but well-drained

at the cold edge of zone 8

so this is an ornamental and a useful plant at once

Not immune to the chestnut blight that decimated the American chestnut in the early twentieth century

Callicarpa formosana Check with George acidic and humus-rich soil keptCallicarpa formosana, the Taiwan beautyberry, is a handsome deciduous shrub that lines the stems with vivid purple berries in fall, the clusters glowing against the fading leaves for strong late season color. Native to Taiwan and southern China, the Taiwan beautyberry is built for warm climates and keeps a fuller, more robust frame than the smaller Asian beautyberries. Small pink lavender flowers open in summer before the purple fruit follows, and