Callicarpa mollis

Callicarpa mollis is a deciduous shrub from eastern Asia. It belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its native range covers Korea and parts of Japan. These include Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and the Ryukyu Islands. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows in rich woods and thickets. It also occurs in forests from low ground to 1,640 feet [500 metres].

The shrub reaches about 8 feet [2.4 metres] in height. It loses its leaves for winter. Flowers open in July, and insects pollinate them. Each flower has both male and female organs. Good fruit crops need cross-pollination between plants. This matters when growing the shrub for its edible fruit. The cited account gives no details about preparing or eating it. It assigns the plant a low food-use rating, one out of five.

Choose sun or a site with light, dappled shade. Dense shade does not suit this shrub. It prefers rich, fertile loam that drains well. Keep the soil moist rather than choosing a dry site. It accepts mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline soils. A lightly shaded woodland garden can meet these needs. A spot beside a south- or west-facing wall offers another option. Such shelter matters in cooler parts of its growing range.

Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. Yet its British growing notes urge caution about winter cold. They limit reliable outdoor growth to Britain's milder areas. Even there, they call for shelter from a wall. The account lists no known hazards, but gives no detailed safety assessment. It records no medicinal uses or other practical uses. Its weed-potential entry does not flag the species as weedy.

Gardeners can raise new plants from seed or cuttings. Sow seed in a greenhouse in February with a thin covering. At 18°C, germination takes one to three months. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them under glass through at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer after frost risk passes. Take half-ripe cuttings in July or August, using a frame. Mature-wood heel cuttings offer an early spring option.