Filipino Beautyberry Plant Care

Callicarpa candicans var. candicans

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Callicarpa candicans, or the malayan lilac, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family. It is native Indochina, southern China, Malesia, New Guinea, northern Australia, and Micronesia.

🌿Shrubs🌱Herbs
Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Temp

50–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Filipino Beautyberry?

Plant Filipino Beautyberry in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young tree every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

What Is the Filipino Beautyberry?

Filipino Beautyberry (Callicarpa candicans var. candicans) belongs to the Lamiaceae family within the Callicarpa genus. Filipino Beautyberry is also known as Philippine Beautyberry.

Filipino Beautyberry displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 6 ft. Filipino Beautyberry produces clusters of small, colorful berries.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Filipino Beautyberry?

Water a young or newly planted Filipino Beautyberry every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–14 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Filipino Beautyberry Need?

Filipino Beautyberry thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to partial shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Filipino Beautyberry Prefer?

Callicarpa candicans var. candicans tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Filipino Beautyberry prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

50–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Filipino Beautyberry?

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Filipino Beautyberry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Filipino Beautyberry?

Feed Filipino Beautyberry every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Filipino Beautyberry?

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Filipino Beautyberry is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Filipino Beautyberry?

Filipino Beautyberry can spread to about 6 ft (1.8 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 6 ft (1.8 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Filipino Beautyberry?

Prune Filipino Beautyberry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

How Do You Care for a Filipino Beautyberry in Winter?

Filipino Beautyberry is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Filipino Beautyberry?

Filipino Beautyberry can be propagated through softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mexican beautyberry plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Filipino Beautyberry Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Filipino Beautyberry, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Filipino Beautyberry?

Filipino Beautyberry is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Filipino Beautyberry Need?

Filipino Beautyberry grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Filipino Beautyberry as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Filipino Beautyberry is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Callicarpa genus — compare its care with other Callicarpa species on PlantoScan.

Callicarpa is part of the Lamiaceae plant family — browse all Lamiaceae genera and species.

Filipino Beautyberry thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

More Callicarpa Species

Other Callicarpa species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Callicarpa candicans var. candicans, family Lamiaceae (first published in Unknown) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Filipino Beautyberry, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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