Maiden tea
Callicarpa japonica
Family: Lamiaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 1-2 m high. The young branches have dense yellow hairs. The leaves are narrowly oval and 7-15 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They taper to the tip. There are teeth around the edge. The leaves are thin and papery. The flowers are small and purple-pink. They occur in groups on the axils of leaves. The fruit are purple berries. They are 3 mm across.
Previously in the Verbenaceae family.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is common on hillsides in China.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, North America, Slovenia, USA
How it is used for food
The fruit have little flesh but are cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Leaves - tea, fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Japonska lepoplodka