Leycesteria formosa
By Anchorman
17 Sep, 2010
6 likes
This shrub arrived in my garden via a birds bottom! It is imo rather exotic looking.It seeds freely and grows to 6 feet in 3 years.It flowers in July and August . It does well in the Uk and seems very frost hardy. Little blackberry coloured berries appear in autumn and hang from below the pink parts of the flowers . The flowers in this photo are about the size they are in real life.
It is very easy to care for. Just cut down to the desired size in spring. (It will accept very heavy pruning) It flowers on this years growth. If you prune after flowering you'll miss out on the attractive blackberry coloured berries which the birds love.
In hard winters top growth may be killed by frost but it will regenerate from the base in spring and it can grow 6 feet in one year but will not get much above that height in total
Comments on this photo
I agree Michaela, don't you just love those birds.
17 Sep, 2010
wish one would arrive in my garden! it is a shrub i have liked for a long time but still not got one
17 Sep, 2010
This one is the first plant I bought after joining GoY - saw it on someones photo page and had to have it - it has been amazing this year I really love it - the birds love the berries also. It does grow very tall but it is amazingly long flowering, and such pretty colours.
18 Sep, 2010
The common name is pheasant berry as pheasant keepers used to plant it so the pheasants could eat the berries
18 Sep, 2010
Its quite exotic looking isn't it....the one in my garden decided to send side shoots out this summer, which have since flowered, while the centre has died??
20 Sep, 2010
i have one of these a present from the birds as well..... its still in flower today..
7 Oct, 2010
I love this plant too and it performs well even in my humid, hot summers. I really love the the new variety called 'golden lanterns'. The yellow foliage is very eye catching and it stays more compact.
29 Oct, 2010
I've just googled "Golden Lanterns" and it is rather lovely.
The common one self seeds very freely and appears regularly in many of my gardens.
29 Oct, 2010
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That was a nice present...love it too! Good birdies :))
17 Sep, 2010