Callicarpa bodinieri Magical Snowqueen

The Callicarpa bodinieri 'Magical Snowqueen' is a bush that will bring a lot of charm to the late season, when flowers have become rare. Its shining white fruiting attracts all attention, arranged in small clusters along its branches. It accompanies a golden yellow autumn foliage and dresses its bare branches in early winter. It is a very hardy plant and very accommodating, which looks stunning as a large mass of bushes or in a free hedge, in a sunny or semi-shaded exposure.

The Callicarpa bodinieri Magical Snowqueen is a recent horticultural variety derived from Bodinier's beautyberry. This deciduous bush was traditionally classified as part of the Verbenaceae family, but is now considered a Lamiaceae, alongside Salvia and Mint. This plant is native to central China and Vietnam. The 'Magical Snowqueen' beautyberry has an upright and bushy habit, reaching about 1.75m (5 ft 8 in) in height and 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) in width at maturity. The plant produces abundantly, in June-July, on the current year's branches, discreet small flowers of white-pink colour with yellow stamens. This flowering, visited by pollinating insects, is followed in early October by the formation of numerous 3.5 to 4 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) diameter berries, shiny and pure white, grouped in small clusters along the stems. They remain more or less until winter. The foliage is composed of entire, oval-elliptical leaves, dark green on the upper side, paler and velvety on the underside. They take beautiful autumnal shades, from yellow to golden. Bodinier's beautyberries adapt to any well-drained soil, as long as it is not too dry in summer, even limestone.

Plant the Callicarpa Bodinieri Magical Snowqueen in a prominent place to enjoy its white berries, which shine in autumn and are so cheerful during the gloomy days of early winter. Planting Callicarpa in groups of three is recommended for better pollination and fruit formation. This bush is very hardy and requires minimal maintenance. It can be planted alongside a carpet of Stachys Byzantina or Silver Basket to enhance its beauty. Additionally, you can cut its branches covered with fruits to create beautiful bouquets decorated with mistletoe and holly.