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What do I have here?

HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
in Plants
Way back in spring I bought two Callicarpa from a certain, "trustworthy", retailer. Or so I thought. What I assumed to be C. Leucocarpa now looks like it might be the Beauty Berry...

And what I thought was the Beauty Berry now looks like this...

And from a thread I saw a couple of days ago, I suspect is actually a Himalayan Honeysuckle. I don't really mind, it's very pretty, just as long as I've got my Beauty Berry and I don't have to get into it with the seller!

Can anyone confirm?
It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
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Posts

  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I think the last 2 pics are Leycesteria @Heartinthedirt
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    Thanks @Uff, I thought it might be. I can see how the seller could get it wrong when it was small, the leaves are a very similar shape and texture to the Callicarpa. If it actually IS a Callicarpa 😆
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited October 2022


    Sorry but i thought I had helped you about this recently.
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2550542#Comment_2550542

    To confirm.....
    1. Callicarpa...with purple berry.
    2. Leycesteria.
    As young plants the they look nothing like they do when mature.
    Green stems are hollow.
    Any good nurseryman should tell instantly what it is.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    See also  above.
    Callicarpa japonica  leucocarpa has white berries.

    Which you do not have.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    HH seedlings are pretty much unmistakable. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    Silver surfer said:


    Sorry but i thought I had helped you about this recently.
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2550542#Comment_2550542

    To confirm.....
    1. Callicarpa...with purple berry.
    2. Leycesteria.
    As young plants the they look nothing like they do when mature.
    Green stems are hollow.
    Any good nurseryman should tell instantly what it is.
    Ah, thanks @Silver surfer, I hadn't seen your comments on that other thread. That's so helpful. I'm sure I have the honeysuckle, but now have real doubts if I have any kind of Callicarpa. I'll have to go out tomorrow and have a proper look. 
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Heartinthedirt said:
    Silver surfer said:


    Sorry but i thought I had helped you about this recently.
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2550542#Comment_2550542

    To confirm.....
    1. Callicarpa...with purple berry.
    2. Leycesteria.
    As young plants the they look nothing like they do when mature.
    Green stems are hollow.
    Any good nurseryman should tell instantly what it is.
    Ah, thanks @Silver surfer, I hadn't seen your comments on that other thread. That's so helpful. I'm sure I have the honeysuckle, but now have real doubts if I have any kind of Callicarpa. I'll have to go out tomorrow and have a proper look. 
    Err ..excuse me but your first pic above which shows a single small purple berry is as already mentioned CALLICARPA!
    Don't know what other reassurance I can give you.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think Callicarpa always looks great at a Garden Centre but getting it to berry from there onwards is impossible. Maybe my soil is just too heavy.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    This is the best one I have ever seen. Just magnificent, full of berries.
    In front of a green house, in full sun, very very sheltered.
    Near Malvern.

    Up here I do not even bother trying.
    Not sunny enough or hot enough.
    All you get is leaves with just the odd berry.




    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    The local Notcutt’s garden centre has lots of them around the car park … they seem to be almost totally neglected yet they put on a brilliant show each year. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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