A senior moment

Also known as the Pheasant Berry. Game Keepers used to plant them to give cover for the Pheasants. I've got one in my garden, Sheal.......it's an interesting plant.

Leycesteria formosa
Himalayan honeysuckle

© RHS

• Other common names Himalayan honeysuckle
  flowering nutmeg
  
  
• FamilyCaprifoliaceae
  
• GenusLeycesteria are deciduous shrubs with hollow stems, simple leaves and terminal and axillary racemes of tubular flowers, followed by fleshy berries
  
• DetailsL. formosa is a vigorous deciduous shrub with erect sea-green stems bearing long-pointed, ovate leaves and pendulous racemes of white flowers with showy red-purple bracts, followed by deep purple berries
  
• Plant rangeAsia
  

Characteristics

• FoliageDeciduous
  
• HabitBushy
  
• FragranceFruit
  
• Hardiness
  
  Hardiness ratings
  All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
  
  • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
  H5
  

Colour
Colour in Autumn

• 
  stem
  
  
  
• 
  foliage
  
  
  
• 
  flower
  
  
  
• 
  flower
  
  
  

Colour in Spring

• 
  stem
  
  
  
• 
  foliage
  
  
  

Colour in Summer

• 
  stem
  
  
  
• 
  foliage
  
  
  
• 
  flower
  
  
  
• 
  flower
  
  
  

Colour in Winter

• 
  stem
  
  
  
• 
  stem
  
  
  

Sunlight

• 
  Full Sun
  
• 
  Partial Shade
  

• Aspect North-facing or East-facing or South-facing or West-facing
  
• Exposure Sheltered
  

Soil

• 
  Chalk
  
  
• 
  Clay
  
• 
  Sand
  
  
• 
  Loam
  

• Moisture Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
  
• SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam
  
• pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
  

Size

• Ultimate height1.5-2.5 metres
  
• Ultimate spread1.5-2.5 metres
  
• Time to ultimate height5-10 years
  

How to grow
CultivationEasily grown in any garden, but especially good for woodland gardens in sun or partial shade

Propagation Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden typesLow Maintenance Drought Resistant Coastal Cottage & Informal Garden

How to care
Pruning Pruning group 3

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

 

Self seeds all over the garden so you'll have a steady supply...

 

To be honest, dai, I've had it in my garden for around 20 or so years and it's always stayed in it's place and never got out of hand. Perhaps, it's more well behaved in my sandy, hungry, quick draining soil