No experience with it but I sure wish that I did. I just checked all of the usual suspects among the mail order suppliers and they are all out of stock. I'm hoping that is due to time of year and that they'll be back in the fall. Good luck with it - I can't give you any advice regarding overwintering due to my wimpy winter environment, but you will likely hear from one of the lower zoned folks. How lovely!

Several other variegated forms of beautyberry on the market. Look for Callicarpa japonica 'Snow Storm' or Callicarpa 'Summer Snow' (can't confirm but think this is a cultivar of C. dichotoma).

Regardless of species, beautyberries tend to be pretty tough plants, root hardy to zone 5 and most stem hardy to at least Z6 so potentially some winter dieback in colder climates. Best in part shade and evenly moist soils but can tolerate drier conditions and even more sun with sufficient water. These variegated ones offer a great choice as IME, beautyberry is a pretty nondescript green lump for most of the growing season, only beginning to shine once the leaves start to fall and the berries become obvious.

Thanks. Yeh, my worry now is that putting it in a raised bed may have been a mistake.

It won't help its cold-hardiness; you might want to get it into a nice spot in the ground. gardengal I agree with your assessment - do you have any sense of which of the variegated varieties is superior or what their different attributes are? I had no idea that variegated forms existed. Can't wait to try one. Docmoo - on the general 'toughness' of Callicarpa - I have a 'Profusion' that I planted about 10-12 years ago from a 4" pot, then moved it two years ago as its site had gotten quite shaded. It towers over me and we moved it (well, two young men moved it) with no adverse affects to either them or it. It has never given me a moment's trouble, and every now and then sends up a baby nearby that I can dig out and give to a friend.

thank you, my garden pals! your advise is why I cherish this garden forum, cuz I just can't be a "lone ranger gardener" :)