I have a healthy looking beauty berry bush (Callicarpus) that flowers well but doesn't set many berries, or else the berries fall off during the summer. I have the same problem with a self fertile kiwi vine. Any suggestions on increasing berry/fruit production for these plants? I see plenty of pollinators around. Thanks! Larry
Callicarpa bodnieri is self-pollinating, but it seems to set much better fruit if it has a companion. With regard to the berries dropping off during summer months: maybe the shrub dries out! Try mulching to prevent this. Self fertile Kiwi vines shouldn't have trouble getting pollinated. However, if you pick one or two of the male flowers with an abundance of stamens and dust them on the female flowers during the warmest and driest part of the day , you should get fruit .
