Callicarpa 'Profusion' is one of those shrubs that earns its keep later in the year, when the garden can start to look a bit tired. In autumn and into winter, it carries vivid purple berries along the stems, which look especially striking in a sunny border or a lightly shaded spot where you’ll see them from the house.

Callicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' forms a rounded, medium-sized shrub over time, ideal for beds and borders or planted in small groups to fill and soften a space. The berries make a lovely contrast with evergreens and ornamental grasses, and it’s a good wildlife-friendly addition too. If you want a low maintenance shrub with real late-season interest, this is a strong candidate.

Grow it in sun or semi shade in almost any soil—chalk, clay, loam or sand—and it’s happy in acidic, neutral or alkaline conditions. Keep the ground reasonably free-draining, and give it a simple prune to shape once it’s finished its display. It’s generally reliable in UK gardens, and it rewards you most when it’s given decent light and not left sitting wet in winter.