You could sow seed - I would assume that just barely covering the berries would work - my brother's MIL digs several from her woods most springs, so I assume they will grow from seed. You can also try to dig it if it's not too big.

If it is big, then searching under it for babies might work. The 'Issai' that I planted 3 years ago has several babies under its branches that I have to dig up this fall - I'll pot them up over the winter and see if friends want them. Since you can - and should - cut the cultivated ones almost to the ground in the winter, I would think that cutting the wild one back fairly hard (after the birds get the berries if you want to wait), would help you look under the bush. You can take the branches in and enjoy them - pull the leaves off and smash the cut ends with a hammer before putting them in a vase.

I've not tried it, but you could also try taking cuttings from it in late spring.

I planted two beautyberries this fall and have had one growing for a year in another place in my yard. I have not heard that you are supposed to cut them almost to the ground in winter. I'm wondering what the reason is for cutting them. Adele

Adele, some folks cut them back hard/to ground in late winter (I've had my goats eat them down to nubs in early spring, and the callicarpas are stalwart enough to rebound) Generally, though, cut them back by 1/3 to 1/2 in early spring to encourage branching; More branching equals more berry display.

Thanks, I'll try that this spring or late winter. Adele

Also, depending on where you have them planted, cutting them back keeps them within the area you have alloted them. I didn't cut back the 'Issai' enough last winter, and it is definitely overgrowing its neighbors!! I believed the tag, which said dwarf, 4'x4', and the seller, who assured me it would be small (well, maybe she said smaller than the species, but I thought the species was dichotoma, growing to 5'. I think it's a selection of Callicapa bodneri instead, which grows to 10'.), so I assumed the mature height and width would be under 4'. It was approximately that the first year. It's actually now about 6' tall and 8' wide - I moved neighbors last summer and have to move more this winter!!! It is gorgeous right now, so I can forgive it. But, I may still plant one of the babies where there's more room, and I may dig the mother plant up instead of its neighbors, and see if it, too can be moved to a more open area. If it dies, I'll still have the baby to grow up.

Berries or cuttings taken in May and June are equally easy. I just put the berries in the fridge over the winter and then sow the berries whole in the spring. The berries are pretty gross by then but the method is effective. Or wintersow.

Forgot to mention that layering works well too.

Thanks so much for all the good ideas. I'm trying to root cuttings now but it doesn't seem to be going so well. I'll try saving seeds for spring planting or I might start some in my gh.

Thanks for the tips Alicia. I tried growing them from seed last winter and it never worked. Will try wintering them in the fridge this winter before planting.

I wintersowed my beautyberry either this year or last. They are about knee high now. I know that they are supposed to reseed agressively. Let me know if you try wintersowing and they don't germinate. Remind me before the spring swap. Shannon/Dirtrx

I had good luck, like Shannon, with wintrersowing the seeds. Put them in a 2L Soda bottle with some soil and forget them. Had so many knee high plants from last winter that I brought them to swaps. If you still need one come spring swap time, remind me and I'll bring some - they didn't seem popular at fall swap. I have native in purple and white and Chinese in purple and white.

I must have missed seeing those at the fall swap. I want the white in both so please bring some in the spring.