Callicarpa pedunculata aka Velvetleaf

Callicarpa pedunculata is a shrub or small tree that keeps its leaves year-round. It belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its native range runs from Asia to eastern Australia. In Asia, it grows in tropical and subtropical regions. It grows at forest edges, in grasslands, and in thickets. It also grows beside roads and in regrown forest. These sites range from sea level to about 7,550 feet [2,300 metres]. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome.

Useful Tropical Plants gives its height as about 10 feet [3 metres]. Some plants reach about 20 feet [6 metres]. Most stay below that greater height. Its woody form and year-round leaves suit a woodland garden. Plants For A Future lists sites with dappled shade. The sources give no bark or leaf shape details for this species. They give no flower colour or bloom season either. Insects carry pollen to the flowers. Pollen from other plants helps them bear good fruit crops.

Choose a sunny site or one with light, dappled shade. The plant prefers rich loam that drains well. Useful Tropical Plants suggests climates from warm temperate to tropical. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 9–11. The sources give no exact guide for when to water. They give no frost limit for the plant. Nor do they list pests or diseases for this species. Its recorded garden use is mainly in woodland sites, not food crops.

Grow new plants from seed or from stem cuttings. Sow seed in a nursery bed under a thin soil cover. At 18°C, seeds may sprout within one to three months. Move each seedling to its own pot when it can stand handling. Grow the plants on before placing them in their final site. Half-ripe cuttings can root well in a frame. You can also use mature cuttings from the current year's growth. These can have a heel of older wood.

People gather wild plants for use in folk medicine. Reported uses treat pain, swelling, wounds, bleeding, and joint problems. People also use leaf-based remedies to treat breathing trouble. These records describe past practice, not proof that treatment is safe. The supplied sources report no known use as food. People have used crushed fresh leaves to stun animals in water. These include fish, shrimp, and eels. Some reports raise fears that the plant may poison cattle. The evidence does not settle whether that risk is real.