Leycesteria crocothyrsos
By Andrewr
28 Jun, 2008
4 likes
You probably know leycesteria formosa, also called the Himalayan Honeysuckle, Flowering Nutmeg or Partridge Berry, but this is the other member of the family, leycesteria crocothyrsos. Not so accomodating, this needs a well-drained soil in sun or part shade and is not so hardy. Will reach six feet in left unpruned but can be cut back quite hard in spring
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Andrewr I have just come across this. It is so different from the Leycesteria formosa. I had heard of it when I looked up the formosa in my 1981 copy of Hilliers. I did not consider it because I wanted hardy plants (no time or inclination then to look after half hardy ones). However over the years I have had the formosa it has never died back and propagates very easily from seed dropped by the birds. You are describing this as less hardy does that mean it is liable to be killed if it dies back in the winter with no hope of new shoots coming away in the Spring?
Amy did you succeed in growing this from seed?
13 Nov, 2011
SG - I've never done very well with this one. I've tried it a couple of times but it really struggled before giving up.
I once saw a large plant in a Yellow Book garden but the size of the flowers was disappointing for the size of the shrub.
13 Nov, 2011
Sounds like one to give a miss then. Thanks Andrewr. Nice of you to show it.
13 Nov, 2011
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This photo is of "Leycesteria crocothyrsos" in Andrewr's garden
A neighbour has just been round with branch of this David , to show me as he was surprised to see it's in flower now ...he tells me it shouldn't be as it's a summer flowering shrub ! I have asked him to save me some seed .....
10 Dec, 2009