'Duet' Callicarpa dichotima

Variegated leaf and white fruit

‘Duet’ is a variegated leaf cultivar of white fruited Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma ‘Albifructus’). It was discov­ered at Tennessee Technological University in 2000 by Dr. Gary Bach­man and Mr. W. Edgar Davis. ‘Duet’ beautyberry was released jointly by the U.S. National Arboretum and Tennessee Technological University.

Leaf variegation is very stable, occasionally throwing a green shoot (which should be pruned off). Growth rate is vigorous, forming a rounded shrub 6 feet tall and 6.5 feet wide in 4 years. The 3 inch long variegated leaves are medium green with a distinctive pale yellow margin.

Flowers are inconspicuous, mostly hidden by the dense foliage in mid-summer. ‘Duet’ flowers and bears fruits on new wood at a young age. Small 0.1 inch diameter white fruit (not the typical lilac-violet fruit of most beautyberries) size up in September and persist for 1 to 2 weeks after leaf drop. Several species of birds are attracted to the fruits in late autumn.

‘Duet’ grows well in an average well- drained soil with moderate fertility. Unlike many beautyberry cultivars, Duet grows in full sun in zone 7 and cooler climates, but does benefit from light shade in warmer climates. It grows well in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones zone 6 and 7), but survives in zone 5 if protected. Prune back and re-grow when winter injury has been severe.

‘Duet’ works well as a single specimen plant, or mass planted as a deciduous hedge or background screen in the shrub border.