Callicarpa dichotoma 'Issai'

This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

• Position: sun or dappled shade
• Soil: fertile, well-drained soil. Can tolerate some lime in the soil.
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: July
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Callicarpa are loved for their clusters of lustrous, lilac berries, but 'Issai' tends to have the ability to produce them on much younger plants. They form along the length length of the stems in autumn, and are often retained long after the last leaf has been shed, really putting on a great display. The small pink flowers which appear in summer, are less showy, but they are pretty - and they're sought after by bees and other pollinators. Easy, undemanding and relatively compact, these shrubs look great in mixed borders, but they can also be used to make an attractive, informal hedge or screen.
  
  
• Garden care: Incorporate plenty of well-rotted organic matter into the planting hole. Prune back stems in early spring, if necessary, cutting back to a permanent framework.