Leycesteria formosa
Garden Plant Information

Leycesteria formosa

 

Name

Leycesteria formosa (also called Pheasant berry and Himalayan honeysuckle)

Genus  

Leycesteria

Species

formosa

Cultivar/variety

 

General description

Upright deciduous shrub producing pendulous clusters of purple-red bracts.

Season of interest

Attractive leaves in spring, purple bracts in summer followed by berries in autumn. Attractive to wildlife.

Key horticultural features

  1.  Ovate leaf with gently lobed margins. H: 180cm S: 180cm

  2. Stems round, hollow, green.

  3. Pendulous purple-red bracts surrounding tubular white flowers.

  4. Purple/red fruits in autumn.

Cultural details

Aspect

Sun or shade

Soil

Well-drained/light, Clay/heavy, Acidic, Chalky/alkaline.

Hardiness

Hardy

Maintenance

Cut back when necessary to reduce size. May be cut back hard. Can look tatty in winter, so useful to have an evergreen nearby.

Propagation

By seed in September or November, or divide plant March to May. Self seeds.