Splashy Japanese Beautyberry. There are several species of Callicarpa which are called "Japanese," and this is just another one of the many species native to Japan. I acquired this selection from a small Japanese nursery on the outskirts of Tokyo, which specializes in variegated plants. When asked for a cultivar name, the owner commented, "No name yet," so Bob McCartney of Woodlanders suggested this catchy name. We have seen several variegated Beautyberries, but this is by far the best. Its white splashed variegation covers more than half of the leaf surface and it is very stable, making this a really outstanding cultivar. It has the same purple berries of the genus but they are much more sparse than the species. I think this selection is more aptly used as a foliage plant rather than one for fall fruit color display.
Zones 6-9
